A cloud of smoke filled the city of Clare this morning—after a local favorite restaurant caught fire.
The fire started in the kitchen of the China King Restaurant on 5th street, just as employees were preparing to open for the day.
“We were at the fire station this morning doing some training, and we got called out at 10:29, we arrive on scene, we had flames visible through the vent hood above the fryers,” said Clare Fire Chief James Chapman.
Climbing on the roof and working inside the burning restaurant, crews worked to put the fire out—but it was too late.
“The fire had already taken over the attic space, so we had to retreat,” said Chapman.
The fire wasn’t the only hazard they were up against.
It was around 11 degrees, with a wind chill of one degree, creating more complications.
“[Surrey Fire Department] laid a line from a hydrant about 400 feet away and the hydrant was frozen—so that creates a water supply problem for us, we’re now hauling water with tenders from our fire station,” said Chapman.
Nicole Tice lives by the restaurant—and tells us what she saw while driving home this morning.
“I was actually coming home from work, I work in Harrison, and I could see the cloud of smoke in the air for a good six, seven miles, coming from north,” said Tice.
She was shocked by the amount of smoke blowing right next to her house.
“When I came around the corner to come home, there were just flames everywhere, it was pretty scary,” said Tice.
Luckily, firefighters were able to respond to the scene quickly, but the building was left destroyed.
Fortunately, all employees were able to evacuate the building as soon as the fire started and no one was injured.
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