Late morning call sends Elizabethton Fire Department to McDonald’s
Published 2:24 pm Thursday, September 12, 2024
Star Correspondent/Ivan Sanders/Members of the Elizabethton Fire Department move mulch and stone in search of a fire source sending smoke into the Elizabethton McDonald's playroom area.
Star Correspondent/Ivan Sanders/The area where smoldering mulch begin to heat up OSB board just under a stone area outside the local McDonald's play area.
Star Correspondent/Ivan Sanders/Assistant Fire Chief Andy Hardin talks over the situation with members of Battalion 3 of the Elizabethton Fire Department.
Star Correspondent/Ivan Sanders/An Elizabethton fireman douses the area with water to foil any attempts of a reignition at the area that sent smoke into the Broad Street McDonald’s.
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STAR CORRESPONDENT
A late morning call on Thursday sent members of Elizabethton Fire Department Battalion 3 to the Broad Street McDonald’s after receiving a possible structure fire call in the local eatery playground area.
When firefighters arrived, patrons and employees had already evacuated the restaurant safely.
Upon entering the building, a smell of smoke could be detected in the area as firemen began to assess the situation.
The firemen determined that the smoke was coming into the playroom area from an outside source and upon further investigation the area creating the smoke was identified.
Firemen used tools to break through stone on the exterior of the building.
“Someone had threw a lit cigarette from a car window which had ignited mulch near the building,” said Assistant Fire Chief Andy Hardin. “The fire from the mulch had begin to heat up some OSB board under the stone sending smoke into the building.”
Water then was sprayed on the open area to make sure there would not be an opportunity for the fire to reignite.
The call was a stark reminder to everyone that is disposing of a lit cigarette or cigar of the importance of making sure that the embers are completely out before discarding of either.
No one was injured during the call as the Elizabethton Police Department and Carter County Rescue Squad were on standby if needed.
An all clear was given by Battalion Chief Taz Erwin allowing the employees to return to their lunchtime duties.
