Firefighters respond to flames at local KFC
By John Joyce
Published in News on June 17, 2014 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
KFC manager Donnie Grant, right, leans in the window of Assistant Fire Chief Eric Lancaster's truck to discuss the damage done to the business by this morning's fire.
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
A firefighter sets up a positive pressure fan in the doorway of KFC. The fan is designed to pull smoke from the building.
No injuries were reported this morning after a fire broke out in the kitchen area of the Kentucky Fried Chicken located at 215 N. Berkeley Blvd.
The call came just after 8:30 a.m. and Goldsboro Fire Department Engine 2 arrived first at the scene and saw light smoke coming from the building, Assistant Fire Chief Eric Lancaster said.
"Engine 2 investigated and found one fryer unit on fire," he said.
Only one employee was working at the time of the fire -- assistant manager Vickie Cabbagestalk, who came in to open the restaurant, switch everything on and get things going for the day.
She told Lancaster she was in the back of the building when she heard a popping noise -- that when she came out, she saw a big blaze.
Firefighters used a fire extinguisher from inside the building to smother the fire and contain the damage to the single fryer unit.
The estimated damage to the $1.3 million building was limited to less than $25,000.
Restaurant manager Donnie Grant responded and met with officials from the Fire Prevention Bureau and the Wayne County Health Department.
Lancaster said it was possible the business would be back open later today, but it was too early to say for sure.
"It was a fryer that malfunctioned causing the grease to get too hot that caused the fire," he said. "I'm sure they are going to want to look at all their machines and make sure nothing else is malfunctioning."