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STN: Fire rampages
03/03/10
Blaze reduces restaurant to rubble
By Debbie Glover
St. Tammany News
Published on Wednesday, March 3, 2010 12:29 AM CST
Click here to see the original post from St. Tammany News
A blazing inferno of flames and smoke destroyed the South China Restaurant, 2220 N. Highway 190 near Covington and left traffic snarled on the northbound lanes of the highway for five hours Monday.
There were no injuries in the stubborn blaze that started about 11 a.m. Traffic was stopped intermittently and when allowed to pass, was funneled down to the left hand lane only.
FD12 Deputy Chief Stephen Krentel said yesterday the cause of the blaze is still under investigation by the fire marshal and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, and may not be known for days. Neighboring business owners stood outside their buildings, watching the flames and hoping their businesses would not become affected.
A fiery inferno consumed the South China Restaurant near Covington on North U. S. Highway 190. Despite efforts of firefighters, the structure could not be saved, although the fire was contained to the one building.
They need not have worried. Fire and police personnel from several districts and nearby Covington worked together to contain the blaze, direct traffic and re-route other calls, putting aside jurisdictional and political differences for the common good and community safety.
According to FD12 spokesman James Hartman, more than 25 vehicles and 75 personnel responded to the scene after the blaze became highly volatile. Law enforcement personnel from the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, Covington Police Department and the Louisiana State Police managed traffic problems.
“From the 911 operators and dispatchers who first took the call to the firefighters and law enforcement on the scene, everyone performed exceptionally well,” said Krentel. “The situation was handled as smoothly as anyone could want.”
After tag-teams of firefighters attempted to contain the blaze from the inside of the structure, it was determined nothing further could be done to save the structure. Three blasts from an air horn was the signal to those fighting the blaze inside to evacuate the building.
Several water tankers arrived on the scene to help fight the fire and supplement the water supply.
After the tankers arrived, firefighters wet down the two towering pine trees in front of the building to save them. By then, the firefighters had gone on the defensive, knowing there was nothing they could do to save the building.
Hoses manned from atop a fire ladder and fed by the water tankers helped contain the flames and kept the fire from spreading to nearby structures. The force of the hoses’ sprays was like unleashing a waterfall, but still were not enough to quickly douse the fire that was constantly fanned by winds from an approaching thunderstorm and complicated by structural additions, including multiple roofs, said Krentel.
Almost every fire district in St. Tammany Parish sent equipment and personnel to assist. Districts not involved in fighting and containing the blaze provided trucks and firefighters to ensure no area of the parish was left without fire protection service.
“We’re proud to be part of the network of fire protection districts in St. Tammany Parish,” Krentel said. “All our communities were well-served by the mutual aid provided to FD12 and our citizens can be secure in the knowledge that despite district boundaries, fire service professionals come together to handle any situation that arises.”
Ironically, the restaurant had reported just finished an inspection of the kitchen and everything was fine, according to the business’ insurer, Don Bonano.
A fire a neighboring Omikoshi restaurant in May 2007, which featured Japanese cuisine, was also a total loss. All that remains of that restaurant is the slab and a partial sign. It was located next door to South China.
Although there have been multiple fires on U. S. 190 in recent years, Krentel said they each have their own story and are not related. He said it is his understanding that the ATF and Fire Marshal determined the Omikoshi fire was a result of arson.
The nearby Law and Saw Shop was another fire in May 2008 that Krentel said was “textbook” in dousing. Many years of oil and gas storage tanks and equipment were saved through the efforts of well-trained firefighters.
He said with a fire on the highway, it is more visible to more people and comes under more scrutiny because of the public exposure.
“Eleven of the 13 fire districts in the parish, including Covington helped with this fire. It impacted the entire parish,” Krentel said.
He also sad that many adults do not realize how fast a fire spreads. Employees Monday attempted to put out the fire with fire extinguishers before calling in the fire, a practice that can be extremely dangerous. He said they have a video of this and other fires that they intend to use for adult education in the future.
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