ESTHERVILLE, IOWA – An early morning fryer fire has shuttered a Northern Iowa fast food joint indefinitely.
The Estherville Fire Department was dispatched to Hardee’s, located at 1736 Central Avenue, early Thursday morning at approximately 5:28 AM for a fryer fire.
Before the first officer arrived, employees activated the Ansul Fire Suppression System. Upon arrival, Assistant Chief Brian Mack used a fire extinguisher to fully suppress the remaining fire inside the restaurant.
However, flames had spread into the exhaust system and extended through the roof. The first arriving engine crew accessed the roof and extinguished the remaining fire using additional fire extinguishers. Firefighters remained on scene for approximately an hour, ventilating the building and checking for fire extension.
A call to the restaurant Thursday at noon confirmed the restaurant is closed at this time, and there was not a timeline quite yet for when they would be able to re-open.
The Estherville Fire Department was assisted by the Estherville Police Department, Estherville Ambulance, and the Wallingford Fire Department.
(PHOTO at top via Estherville Fire Department.)