Blaze-hit restaurant remains shut

Aug 9 2007 By Anna Jeys, Birmingham Mail

BOSSES at a popular Mexican restaurant damaged by fire have no idea when the business will be able to re-open.

Nearly 40 firefighters battled to contain the fire at the Chiquito Restaurant and Bar, on Hagley Road West, Quinton, at about 8.30am yesterday. The fire was thought to have started in the kitchen.

Fire-fighters managed to prevent any major structural damage.

West Midlands Fire Service press officer Mike Fox said the restaurant, which is on the corner of Wolverhampton Road and Hagley Road West, had been heavily smoke-logged and the damage was extensive.

No one was at the restaurant, popular with families from Birmingham and the Black Country, when automatic alarms were activated.

A spokesman for the restaurant today remained tight-lipped on how long the restaurant will have to stay closed.

He said: "Our fire and safety officer was on site. There were no injuries and we are working with West Midlands Fire Service to establish the cause of the fire.

"The kitchen was damaged quite badly but it is unknown how much the rest of the restaurant was damaged. It is too early to say when the restaurant will be open again."

Firefighters managed to stop the flames from spreading into the roof space of the restaurant but smoke had spread through the building, causing extensive damage.

The cost of the damage was thought to run into tens of thousands of pounds.

Fire crews from Oldbury, Woodgate Valley, Bournbrook, Smethwick, Ladywood, Dudley and Halesowen were sent to the scene.