Hood ventilation system suspected in Brookville restaurant fire

Fire that extensively damaged a Brookville restaurant originated in the area of or adjacent to the hood ventilation system, according to Fire Chief Ronald Fletcher.

However, the exact cause of the July 3 fire at K’s Restaurant on Arlington Road still is undetermined after initial investigation.

Total damages were estimated at $200,000, including both the property and the contents in the building.

K’s Restaurant broke out in flames before 8 p.m., and crews found flames in the gable vent when they arrived.

Fire was seen on the right side of the structure through the roof at the gutter line, and firefighters attacked where smoke and fire pushed from the gable vents on the right side, according to Fletcher’s report.

Crews were able to knock down the fire and pulled most of the ceiling for extinguish the blaze, the report said.

The fire caused heavy damage to the kitchen and half of the dining room of the family-style restaurant at 485 Arlington Road. K’s has been in the Brookville community for 40 years.

The investigation did not go further, the report said, because of physical damage it would have caused to the hood and related assemblies before the insurance company could assess the fire damage, obscuring the insurance company’s investigation.

Fletcher advised the business owner to keep the area intact until the insurance company investigated.

The patrons who were in the restaurant at the time of the fire all evacuated safely and a few firefighters were evaluated for heat-related issues.

K’s Restaurant includes a banquet facility that was added about 14 years ago, and a church congregation used the banquet room for Sunday services and Bible study on Wednesdays.

The Dayton Daily News has reached out to K’s Restaurant owners, who have declined to comment about the restaurant’s future.

Brookville fire was assisted by New Lebanon, Vandalia, Englewood, Trotwood and Lewisburg through the mutual aid agreement among area fire departments.

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