
Photo by Lisa Bangs Jensen
Update from the Sycamore Fire Department
1/10/15 2:30pm
On January 9, 2015 at approximately 3:33pm the Sycamore Fire Department responded to a report of a structure fire at 439 E. State Street. Upon arrival, firefighters found light smoke in the kitchen and light smoke emitting from the roof of a one story fast food restaurant (Wendy’s). The initial arriving fire companies mounted an interior fire attack in the kitchen of the restaurant where they found fire in the void space between the ceiling and the roof structure. Within minutes, flames were visible on the roof which forced fire companies to the ground level and thick black smoke emitted from the buildings facade. The fast changing conditions forced firefighters from a aggressive interior fire attach to a defensive fire attack. Fire spread quickly throughout the roof structure traveling horizontally from east to west. Fire also then spread internally to the dining area of the restaurant. A number of manned fire attack hose hand lines and two elevated streams were used to contain the fire.
Due to the large volume of fire, the structure sustained substantial structural damage. The fire was brought under control in approximately 2 hours, but fire operations continues for another 2 1/2 hours to extinguish fire in the facade on all four sides of the building. The building appears to be a total loss with the damage estimated to be approximately $500,000.
There were no injuries to firefighters, restaurant workers or customers. The Sycamore Fire Department was assisted at the scene by the Cortland, DeKalb, Genoa-Kingston, Maple Park, Hampshire, Elburn and Malta Fire Departments. Other assisting agencies included the Sycamore Police Department, Sycamore Public Works, Sycamore Water Department, Commonwealth Edison and NICOR. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Original Article:
Firefighters responded about 4 o’clock Friday afternoon to the Wendy’s Restaurant in Sycamore, to a fire in progress. Employees say the fire started just before 4 p.m. when flames were spotted in the ceiling above the kitchen.
Route 64 was blocked off in both directions near the restaurant. Flames could be seen coming from the roof and siding on the building in the following minutes; no injuries were reported.
Reports are that the restaurant had been closed for extensive cleaning, installation of a new fryer and for recertification by the DeKalb County Health Department.
All three Wendy’s in the area have been hit by fire. The Wendy’s on Lincoln Highway in DeKalb burned to the ground, and the one on Sycamore Road in DeKalb was damaged by another fire just days later. This same restaurant in Sycamore also had a smaller fire in 2011.
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