Heroes restaurant damaged in fire
By Gary Popp
Published in News on December 10, 2010 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/MICHAEL K. DAKOTA
Goldsboro firefighters help fight a fire Thursday at Heroes Sports Oyster Bar & Grill. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the SBI.
A fire at Heroes Sports Oyster Bar & Grill at the corner of Berkeley Boulevard and Ash Street is being investigated by the SBI.
The fire damaged the upper part of the building. It started about 11:35 a.m., Goldsboro Fire Chief Gary Whaley said.
"At this time, we don't have any idea what started the fire," Whaley said. "We do know the majority of the fire was between the ceiling and roof of the building."
After a preliminary investigation, it was decided to call in the Fire Investigation Division of the SBI, said Assistant Chief Frank Sasser.
"We do know the majority of fire was between the ceiling and roof of the building," Whaley said.
It took about an hour for firefighters to contain the fire, Whaley said.
Investigators estimated the fire caused $350,000 in damages. Sasser said the business owner said no one was in the building at the time of the fire. Employees usually arrive about 2 p.m. for the restaurant's 4 p.m. opening, he said.
All five of Goldsboro fire stations responded and police handled traffic at the busy intersection.
Sasser said that extensive damage occurred to the roof and attic space, but the fire caused virtually no damage the establishment's dining area.
To fight the fire above the ceiling, firefighters created holes in the roof and put specialty fans in the building for ventilation.
Sasser said holes were also created in the wall so firefighters could reach fire hidden in the exterior walls.
"They knocked the bulk of the fire out pretty quick," he said.