VIDEO: Fire Temporarily Closes Burger King in Effingham

VIDEO UNDER STORY

Fire temporarily closed the Burger King restaurant on Thelma Keller Avenue in Effingham today, but things are now getting back to normal.

Effingham firefighters were called out at 11:08am.  Burger King General Manager Tony Arnold said employees smelled something burning and started seeing smoke in the building.  Arnold evacuated the half-dozen employees and about four customers and phoned the authorities.

Effingham Fire Chief Joe Holomy said the fire was declared under control at 11:38am and cleared the scene at 12:12pm.  Holomy said it appeared the fire started in the landscape mulch outside the south entrance door, which ignited the exterior siding of the building.  The fire then moved up within the wall towards the roof line, burning the structural members and insulation within the wall.

Damage to the structure is estimated at $10,000.  Due to the smoke within the building, all of the food and related products had to be disposed of, which will amount to several thousand dollars.  The bathrooms sustained minor water damage.  The City Building Official and County Health Department offices both responded to the scene.

Tony Arnold contacted our newsroom later this afternoon to report that they have been re-supplied and planned to re-open at 5pm today.

Watson and Teutopolis firefighters staffed the Effingham stations while city fire crews were on scene.

No one was injured.