Cheesecake Factory Fire Spreads Through Vents, 100+ Firefighters Respond

More than 100 firefighters battled a two-alarm fire that recently broke out in the commercial kitchen of a Cheesecake Factory on Pike Street in downtown Seattle, Washington. Firefighters spent more than an hour responding to the blaze, which quickly spread to the six-story building’s ventilation system, according to KOMO News, closing multiple lanes of traffic. No injuries were reported.

After an investigation, the April 19 fire was deemed accidental and authorities said it had erupted in a fryer, KING 5 reported April 22.

“This is obviously not something any business owner expects to go through,” said Allison Viramontes, Underwriter, Commercial Insurance, Burns & Wilcox, Woodland Hills, California. “It is very fortunate that there were no injuries but there are many costs the restaurant could face, and those expenses add up very quickly. The longer it takes to put out the fire, the higher the costs will be.”

While no estimate on damages was given, the Cheesecake Factory location was already set to permanently close on May 5 after 23 years in business. Due to the risk of restaurant fires, business owners are encouraged to review their fire safety protocols regularly as well as their coverage under Commercial Property Insurance, which can help pay for fire-related property damage.

“Commercial kitchens have an inherently high fire risk due to constant use of open flames, hot surfaces and flammable oils,” said Michael Dunne, Senior Underwriter, Commercial Insurance, Burns & Wilcox, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas. “Restaurants need to have adequate protective safeguards in place; otherwise, the likelihood and severity of fire incidents increase significantly.”

Commercial kitchens have an inherently high fire risk due to constant use of open flames, hot surfaces and flammable oils. Restaurants need to have adequate protective safeguards in place.

Cost of commercial kitchen fires

Commercial kitchen fires are a costly and persistent risk for the restaurant industry. In the U.S., structure fires in eating and drinking establishments cause an estimated $165 million in property damage annually, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Most of these fires originate in the kitchen, with cooking equipment like deep fryers and ranges being the leading sources. Deep fryers were involved in 1 in 5 fires and ranges or cooktops were involved in 14% of incidents, the association reported. Beyond property losses, businesses may also face extended closures during repairs, lost revenue, and liability claims if individuals are injured. 

“The smoke and water damage from having to put the fire out can be even more expensive than the damage from the fire itself,” Dunne said, pointing to the potential for mold growth and other impacts. “All of these things contribute to elevated insurance premiums for restaurants.”

The smoke and water damage from having to put the fire out can be even more expensive than the damage from the fire itself.

Commercial Property Insurance can help pay for repairs, replacing damaged business property such as kitchen equipment, loss of business income and other expenses. “If the business is closed for a period of time, there is revenue they are missing out on,” Dunne said. “Coverage for business income is something they should have on their Commercial Property Insurance.”

Endorsements can be added to these policies to cover things like food spoilage or utility interruptions, Viramontes noted. “As a restaurant owner, you do not want to throw away thousands of dollars’ worth of food due to a power outage and not have that covered by insurance,” she said. “Equipment breakdown can be covered, as well. Those are necessary coverages that can be added for relatively small premiums, and they are definitely worth the peace of mind.”

Fire losses often severe

In Cape Cod, Massachusetts, a popular seafood restaurant was recently declared a “total loss” after a massive fire broke out in the kitchen and was worsened by a gas leak, WCVB reported May 7. In Philadelphia, a fire that tore through the Ashton Village shopping center damaged at least one restaurant in the strip mall, NBC10 Philadelphia reported May 6.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, nonresidential building fires caused 130 deaths, 1,200 injuries and more than $3 billion in losses in 2023. If customers are injured in a restaurant fire, Commercial General Liability (CGL) Insurance can respond to claims or lawsuits over third-party bodily injuries and property damage, with Excess Liability Insurance often recommended in order to obtain higher limits. “We often see liability limits being too low,” Viramontes said.

Although proper fire safety protocols can prevent many restaurant fires, the fire losses that occur in these establishments tend to be severe, Viramontes said. “If there is a fire loss, it is usually on the larger or more severe side,” she said. “We often see the shock, one-off fire losses — the really large claim that no one saw coming.”

When a fire occurs in a structure with multiple tenants, the business where the fire originated is generally “first on the line” for damages, though neighboring tenants could also experience losses. In the recent Cheesecake Factory fire, for example, “every business on that street was impacted” due to road closures, Viramontes said.

“Those businesses may not have been able to open or serve their customers for the day. Other tenants in the building could now be looking at smoke damage for their property or lost goods,” she said. “The landlord should have a Commercial Property Insurance policy for the building and each tenant will have their own policy for their contents. We want both parties to have policies so there is some risk transfer in place.”

Preventing restaurant fire losses

The NFPA provides detailed guidelines for fire safety in restaurants, including exhaust systems, clearance requirements, construction materials for hoods, fire extinguishing equipment, employee training and more. Building owners should ensure that their tenants are following these guidelines and all applicable fire safety regulations, Dunne emphasized. “If you own a strip mall and one tenant is a restaurant, you want to make sure that restaurant is taking care of the required safeguards,” he said.

When purchasing Commercial Property Insurance, restaurant owners will typically need to fill out a supplemental application that includes questions about the fire prevention strategies in place at the business. This is often followed by an in-person inspection, Dunne said.

“Regular staff training is imperative,” he added. “Every kitchen should have at least two ways to get out safely and those should be clearly marked exits. Having a fire safety plan in effect is extremely important.”

Unfortunately, certain safeguards are “frequently overlooked — even something as simple as a Class K fire extinguisher,” Dunne said. “We often find on inspections that they are the wrong class or even out of date.”

Proper maintenance of sprinkler systems and other equipment is also essential, providing a layer of “checks and balances” that can save companies substantially in the event of a fire, Viramontes said. “Make sure your fire prevention systems are up to date and inspected annually. There are companies that provide this service affordably, and that is something that is very easy to forget to do,” she said. “If a fire does happen, you want to be sure everything is working properly to put it out as quickly as possible to help mitigate the size of the loss.”