North Strabane landmark restaurant 'total loss' after fire
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A fire destroyed an iconic North Strabane restaurant Thursday evening.
North Strabane fire Chief Mark Grimm said Frankie I's Bar and Grill is "a total loss" after a blaze that started in the kitchen ripped through the restaurant.
Chief Grimm said firefighters were dispatched to the restaurant, at 1180 Mapleview Drive, at 6:30 p.m. There were about 15 patrons and five employees in the restaurant at the time, all of whom got out safely.
By the time firefighters arrived on scene at around 6:35, Chief Grimm said the structure was "fully involved." The blaze spread quickly through the building, a converted wood-frame barn that was about 100 years old.
It took more than three hours for firefighters to get the fire under control.
Chief Grimm said employees told firefighters that the fire started in the ceiling of the kitchen. They attempted to put it out with fire extinguishers and called 911 when it began to spread.
Chief Grimm said it appears the fire is accidental. A state police fire marshal is investigating.
First Published January 27, 2012 12:00 am
