Crime & Safety

Diner Evacuated After Fire Breaks Out in Basement

The 24-hour establishment was promptly emptied and shut down pending an investigation and subsequent inspection.

The Wayne Hills Diner was evacuated Monday night after a fire reportedly occurred in the basement of the restaurant at about 11 p.m., authorities said.

The fire reportedly started on a storage rack in the basement, said Fire Commissioner Steven Toth. The fire did not spread to the rest of the building.

“The sprinkler system pretty much kept it contained to that rack,” Toth said.

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Smoke did come up from the basement into the dining room. The diner was promptly evacuated, Toth said. There were customers inside when the fire occurred.

The Police Department's Arson Unit is investigating the fire. Toth said officials were trying to discover what caused the fire.

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There were no reported injuries, Toth said.

All food that was open and being used will have to be thrown away, Toth said.

Authorities closed the business down, which is normally open 24 hours a day, after the fire occurred. It will open once it passes an inspection by the Wayne Health Department.

Companies 3 and 4 responded to the fire.

The diner is the second local restaurant to be damaged by fire this month. Fuddruckers was damaged by a fire earlier this month. It reopened for business the next day.

— Have a question or news tip? Contact editor Daniel Hubbard atDaniel.Hubbard@patch.com or find us on Facebook and Twitter. For news straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.


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