Patrons Flee Restaurant Fire; Cook Injured
A sudden restaurant fire at the Irvine Marriott Saturday morning injured a cook and sent startled patrons at a breakfast buffet scrambling for the doors, authorities reported.
Jose Castillo, 34, of Santa Ana was fixing omelets for the buffet table at J.W. Sea Grill, when a butane canister he was using to fuel a small stove exploded, said Capt. Dan Young, a spokesman for the Orange County Fire Department.
“It sent up a flash about 8 to 10 feet in both directions,” Young said. “The restaurant’s sprinklers quickly extinguished the fire, yet most of the customers panicked.”
Castillo, a cook, suffered first- and second-degree burns on his face and right hand. He was treated at Irvine Medical Center and released in stable condition.
After the gas and smoke was cleared from the dining room, the two dozen stunned customers filed back into the room to finish their cold breakfasts.
Young said the fire caused about $2,000 in damage and forced the restaurant to close for the rest of the afternoon to make repairs.
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