Firefighters work on a small fire at Cazuela’s Grill that caused smoke damage Jan. 8.
Credit: Ritika Shah / Asst. photo editor
Margarita-lovers might have to wait a few days to get their fix at Cazuela’s Grill.
The Mexican restaurant, located at 2247 N. High St., had a small fire that caused smoke damage to the outside of the building Wednesday, creating a hole in the exterior of the structure, 3rd Battalion Chief Rick Artrip with the Columbus Division of Fire said.
“We had a little bit of a fire,” he told The Lantern. “It’s not a big deal, (there wasn’t) much smoke.”
The resulting smoke damaged wood on the exterior of the building, but Artrip said not much was damaged inside, although there was smoke on the inside of the building as well.
The restaurant was closed at the time of the fire and no injuries were reported, Artrip said.
Fire crews were at the restaurant shortly before 5 p.m. and High Street was blocked by fire equipment and fire crews at the scene.
“We think there were plumbers … heating frozen pipes,” Artrip said.
Artrip said he believes the equipment the plumbers were using to reheat and repair the pipes started the fire.
Raul Sotez, an employee at Cazuela’s, said he lives near the restaurant and was told by someone else that fire trucks were gathered outside so he went to watch.
“I’m not going to work so I’m sad,” he said. “We’ve gotta fix the hole.”
Maggie Lynch, a second-year in French who has eaten at Cazuela’s in the past, watched the fire crews from across the street at Kafe Kerouac, located at 2250 N. High St.
“I was walking down here and saw High Street was blocked off,” she said. “We saw some smoke coming out of this upper right window (at Cazuela’s).”
She also said she watched the fire Division of Fire use a hose and make holes for the smoke to escape.
Brent Niese, a second-year in mechanical engineering, said he lives near the restaurant and saw the police cars so he went to the area to see what was happening.
“I’d be devastated (if the restaurant closed),” he said. “I love Cazuela’s.”
Immediate attempts to contact the restaurant’s manager Wednesday evening were unsuccessful.
Correction: Jan. 8, 2014
An earlier version of this article misspelled 3rd Battalion Chief Rick Artrip’s name.
