Beavercreek firefighters said they are still working to determine an official cause for flames and a estimated dollar loss from the fire is still being assessed.
The restaurant employs about 80 people and restaurant management is looking at keeping those people working by either assisting with cleanup efforts at the restaurant or by picking up shifts at nearby Red Robin locations, according to spokesman Kevin Caulfield.
Red Robin has other locations in Dayton, West Chester and Mason.
UPDATE @ 9:35 p.m. (Nov. 11):
Red Robin at the Mall at Fairfield Commons will likely remain closed for a while after a fire caused extensive damage to the roof, ducts and led to smoke and water damage, said Deputy Chief Scott Dorsten of the Beavercreek Twp. Fire Department.
“The fire was in the hood system for the grills. It did extend to the roof,” he said.
Staff had already evacuated the restaurant at 2671 Fairfield Commons Blvd. before crews arrived, and no injuries were reported to patrons or firefighters, Dorsten said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, and a dollar loss was not available.
UPDATE @ 9 p.m.
Anthony Satariano of Kettering was first in line to get his carry-out order Friday evening when he heard someone yelling fire from the kitchen and saw a manager running.
Quickly, he said staff started yelling for patrons to get out, that there was a fire.
“I would say it was a panic, but I didn’t see anyone get hurt,” Satariano said. Outside, “as soon as I could turn around … I looked back, I could see fire on the roof, smoke was pouring everywhere.”
Satariano’s wife, Aubrey, was waiting in the car in the parking lot. When Anthony came out, his wife had just opened the door after hearing someone exclaim there was a fire.
Although the Satarianos paid for his burger and his wife’s salad, they left empty-handed and went to the drive-through of Steak N Shake across the street.
The building appears intact from the outside, but the extent of damage inside is not known. We’re working to learn more about the fire from Beavercreek Twp. fire officials and Red Robin.
Patron Jasmine Wallace posted on the WHIO Facebook page that the building was quickly evacuated, and that you could smell the fire. She said that some people left their belongings inside.
Other posts on social media speculated that the damage inside was likely extensive enough to make the building a total loss.
FIRST REPORT
Flames are showing from the roof of Red Robin restaurant at Fairfield Commons.
The fire was reported shortly before 6 p.m. at the restaurant in Beavercreek.
Fire crews from Beavercreek Twp. and Fairborn have been called to the scene.
We’re working to learn more about this fire.