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Fire damages Chesterfield Family Restaurant

Rick Fox | The News Herald

Burke County Fire Marshal Mark Pitts ropes off Chesterfield Family Restaurant after a fire.

By Steve Welker | The News Herald

Published: November 2, 2009

Morganton, NC - A fire early Monday caused extensive smoke and heat damage inside Chesterfield Family Restaurant, also known as the Chesterfield Grill, at 2000 John's River Loop.
Burke County EMS received a call at 12:55 a.m. from someone in the area who reported smoke at the 2,400-square-foot frame building.
Chesterfield Fire Rescue was first on the scene. Chief Ken Burgin said smoke was coming out of both ends of the building when he arrived. Burgin said he told the first two firemen there to suit up and don airpacks while he another fireman charged two hose lines from their engine. They then used a pry bar to open a door at the front of the building.
"The fire was in the back. We first thought it was in the kitchen," Burgin said. "We broke out the windows to let some of the smoke clear. We found the initial fire was in the office, on the lefthand side. We got the back door open and got a positive-pressure fan going to push the smoke out while they were getting the fire under control."
In addition to Chesterfield Fire Rescue's engine, two tankers arrived on the scene. Oak Hill Fire & Rescue and Triple Community Fire Department came on automatic aid. Burgin said a total of about 25 fire and rescue personnel eventually were involved. They were on the scene until about 4:30 a.m.
Burgin declined to speculate about the cause of the fire.
Fire Marshal Mark Pitts and Fire Inspector Cecil Huffman visited the scene Monday morning. Pitts said it may be awhile before they determine the cause or prepare an estimate of the loss.
Burgin said, "There was pretty good damage" although they confined the actual fire to the office.
Pitts said smoke and heat ruined much of the interior, but there did not appear to be structural damage.
The building's value is put at $169,000 on the county tax rolls.
The restaurant's owner is Timothy D. Smith. Efforts to contact him Monday afternoon were unsuccessful.