Firemen Work to Save Briskets in Smokehouse BBQ Fire

Smoke fills the air at Smokehouse Bar BQ, but isn't brisket cooking. The building, located next to the Village Shopping Center has been caught in a blaze. 

SAFD Ladder 1, two trucks, one fire rescue unit, one ambulance and several SAPD police vehicles are on scene. 

The fire appears to be under control. Updates to come. 

Update 10:10 p.m.

Firemen are working hard to save the brisket. All flames have been extinguished, and the fire is under control.

Battalion Chief Fred Barnett explains that there are 30-50 briskets inside on a rotisserie. Firemen cut off oxygen to the fire in order to stave off the flames and save the briskets for owners, as a loss of the product would be a large expense. Firemen have been here before and dispensed foam, which cost the owners a lot of money. Since then, they've learned to maintain the fire and contact the owners so that they may open the door and attempt to save the product. 

The owner says there are 3-4 cases of brisket inside, and a build up of grease is suspected to have fueled the fire.  

Update 10:35

The fire department has shut off all the gas and determined that the gas was not the cause. The grease was not draining as it should, as it more viscous than in summer months, resulting in a small fire. 

The FD is leaving one unit and a crew to observe the building and will assist the the owners turn the gas back on and get the rotisserie cookers going again so that they will be ready for lunch.

The owners estimate the the value of the products to be around $600

The Battalion Chief said this is excellent training for the team. 

No water was used. The fire was starved of oxygen to keep it under control.