Applebee's, Salem, MA USA Grease Exhaust Fire

Published: April 09, 2008 12:03 am

Police, firefighters squash Applebee's blaze

By Bruno Matarazzo Jr.
Staff Writer

DANVERS — Police and firefighters extinguished a grease fire at Applebee's on Independence Way that caused the chain restaurant to close early.

Heavy smoke was showing from the chimney when police and firefighters arrived at the scene at 7:45 p.m., shortly after a call from the restaurant. Staff and customers were outside when Patrolman Scott Frost arrived on scene and entered the restaurant, grabbed a dry chemical fire extinguisher and knocked down flames that were 18 inches high. Firefighter David Mondi arrived shortly afterward, grabbed another dry chemical fire extinguisher and put out the remaining fire on the grill in the kitchen, fire Capt. Doug Conrad said.

Conrad said the town's health agent responded to the restaurant near the Liberty Tree Mall and made sure all food exposed to the dry chemical was thrown out and the kitchen was cleaned up before customers could be served food again. Conrad said the dry chemical isn't harmful.

"The (dry chemical) agents aren't toxic, but we can't let people eat it," Conrad said.

The restaurant was closed for the remainder of the night so workers could clean up the kitchen. Conrad said the fire started in catch pans underneath the grill.