Small fire closes Red Lobster restaurant on Sunday
NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) (June 12, 2023) – Firefighters are crediting the fast-acting workers at Red Lobster for preventing a weekend fire at the New Towne Mall plaza restaurant from getting out of hand.
Fire Captain Matthew Graham it was a small fire in a utility room involving a broom and some other materials around 10:15 a.m. Sunday.
He says the staff members preparing to open for the day mostly had it out with extinguishers before the firefighters arrived.
Graham says the flames did damage a hot water tank and some other items in that utility room, and caused minor damage to the building, though he didn’t immediately have an estimate.
Graham says the cause of the fire is believed to be accidental but still under investigation.
The restaurant was closed Sunday and he was unsure how long cleanup and restoration would take before it’s open again.