Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a call for a fire at the Fire Station 1 restaurant at 8131 Georgia Avenue in Downtown Silver Spring on Thursday afternoon. Units arrived to find a fire in and around the exhaust system of the restaurant and fire coming from the chimney. The bulk of the fire was quickly knocked out and units checked for hot spots and extensions in other parts of the chimney, shaft, and ductwork of the restaurant.
According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, the cause of the fire was unattended hot oil that ignited and extended into restaurant’s ventilation system, which then spread to the roof of the building due to built up grease. Damage are estimated to be around $225K, including $75K in structural and $150K in contents. No injuries were reported, but some lanes were blocked due to the fire in the Downtown Silver Spring area.
Update (10/13 ~4p) 8131 Ga Av,Silver Spring; Origin & Cause, unattended hot oil ignited, extended into ventilation system, igniting built up grease (which vented & extended to roof membrane & structural materials); Damage, total >$225K, incl ~$75K structure, >$150K contents https://t.co/dPV4XSWIGc pic.twitter.com/sUgZ8EQfqy
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) October 14, 2022