Wednesday, June 2, 2010 The Chili Fire Department responded for a structure assignment at 3200 Chili Ave the Wendy’s Restaurant for smoke filling the dining area. 4318 was on a detail two buildings away when the call came in and arrived on location first with nothing showing. 4C-33 arrived on location and assumed command on the “B” side. The crews of 4332, 4312 and 4322 entered the structure and had an odor of smoke but nothing visible.

 

The manager of Wendy’s stated that there was smoke coming from the base board which was on the “A B” side. The crews removed the base board and the paneling down to the brick wall and found smoke puffing out near the window ledge. Inspection holes were then put into the knee wall finding more smoke coming out and a section of sidewalk near the outer corner of the building was also inspected finding a small void where a piece of rebar went through the block wall. The cause of the smoke was a discarded cigarette that was tossed away and fell between the sidewalk and the building and smoldered on the insulation inside the wall. The insulation was extinguished by putting a garden hose through the void in the wall and filling it with water.