RESTAURANT FIRE RULED ACCIDENTAL

On Thursday, November 20 around 3:12pm, New Bern Fire-Rescue was dispatched to a reported structure fire at Sanuki restaurant located at 2311 Neuse Boulevard. Local EMS units reported seeing smoke coming from the building and the fire was immediately upgraded to a working fire. New Bern Fire-Rescue requested mutual aid from Stations 31 (West of New Bern Volunteer Fire Department) and 21 (Township 7 Volunteer Fire Department).

Crews arrived on scene in approximately 2 minutes to find the one story, wood-framed structure on fire. While the restaurant was not open at the time, employees were there and everyone made it outside safely. The fire originated in the kitchen, where a deep fryer filled with grease had ignited.  The fire spread quickly from the kitchen into the insulation in the attic.

The fire was brought under control within minutes and extinguished within approximately one hour. There were no injuries to first responders or restaurant employees and no damage to neighboring businesses. Investigators determined the cause of the fire was accidental. There is significant smoke and fire damage to the interior. Crews stayed on scene until around 6pm to complete the investigation and monitor the structure for hot spots.

New Bern Fire-Rescue, West of New Bern Volunteer Fire Department, and Township 7 Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene. Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department helped back fill positions at headquarters station on Neuse Boulevard in the event of any other calls for service.