Firefighters douse vent fire, save downtown building

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Firefighters use the city's ladder truck to access the roof of 44 Merrimac St. to battle a vent fire Saturday night. Ben Laing

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March 15, 2009

Firefighters douse vent fire, save downtown building

Lynne Hendricks The Daily News of Newburyport Sun Mar 15, 2009, 01:34 PM EDT

NEWBURYPORT — A fire in the cooking ventilation system of Glenn’s Restaurant and Cool Bar last night briefly sent flames shooting from the roof at 44 Merrimac St. before it was contained by firefighters, who initially feared its potential to destroy a building that’s stood on the waterfront since 1915.

Trucks from three surrounding towns were called in to help Newburyport firemen battle the blaze, and though the building sustained some damage, the feeling of first responders is that it could have been much worse.

At approximately 8:45 p.m. at the height of the restaurants’ Saturday night dinner rush, kitchen staff reported they heard the telltale sounds of a blaze breaking out in the cooking vent. They recognized the problem and sought immediately to shut down the ducts and keep the unseen fire contained to the first floor of the building.

“All we heard is a great big ‘whoosh,’ ” said Mark Armour, one of the cooks working in the kitchen at Glenn’s last night. “There was nothing we could do. The alarm went off and (firetrucks) were on their way.”

The restaurant and bar, owned and operated by Glenn Mayers and Charlene Ferreira, was at full capacity at the time.

“It’s the busiest night of the week,” said Armour.

Attempts were made, said Armour, to fight and contain the fire with an extinguisher kept on hand in the kitchen. In fact, one of the restaurants that night was the city’s wiring inspector, David Zinck, who reportedly became involved in that effort. But when it became evident those efforts were failing, the decision was made to evacuate the restaurant.

“We got everyone out as fast as we could,” said Armour.

Bob and Eleanor Noonan of Winthrop were enjoying their night out at Glenn’s when they smelled smoke no more pungent than if it were coming from a fireplace.

“We were here celebrating her birthday,” said Bob Noonan, standing with nearly 100 spectators along Merrimac Street watching firefighters work the fire. “We just feel terrible.”

“They handled it very well – no panic,” Noonan said of the restaurant owners and staff. “They did everything right.”

By the time customers were being told of the problem, off duty City Marshall Thomas was already mobilizing police units to aid firemen in controlling the fire. By stroke of fate, Howard happened to be nearby when the first signs of smoke began billowing from the building’s rooftop.

“I was coming over the bridge and I saw heavy, heavy smoke coming out of the building,” said Howard, who at 8:55 p.m. was directing traffic heading down Green Street away from the building.

The city alarm rang out at approximately 8:50 p.m., with the towns of Amesbury, Salisbury and Newbury responding with fire trucks. It wasn’t clear at that time what they’d be facing, but with flames leaping out through the top of the building air vents when they arrived, it didn’t look good.

“It’s a big building,” said Howard at approximately 9 p.m. “This thing could go really quickly right now.”

At that time firefighters were fighting the blaze from within the building, several more were on top of the roof, and others were utilizing Newburyport’s ladder truck to direct water down through the duct system.

“As far as I know it’s contained to the kitchen vent, which goes up three floors,” said Deputy Fire Chief Steve Bradbury, who was communicating with firefighters on the ground.

After about 30 minutes the efforts of the team of firefighters paid off, with the fire contained mostly to the 3-story high ventilation system.

“It looks like it’s out,” said Bradbury at approximately 9:35 p.m.

Other than Glenn’s Restaurant and Cool Bar, the Building Association building also houses Muzzy Lane Software, the offices of Attorney Lisa Mead, and a host of other businesses including Architect Andrew Sidford and Associates.

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