A small grease fire at Ship’s Chow Hall in Wiscasset early Thursday, Nov. 20 did not affect business. According to owner Tina Fitzsimmons, some grease had settled in the back of the grill after routine cleaning and maintenance the previous evening. When the grill was fired up in preparation for the breakfast rush at approximately 4:30 a.m., it ignited.
“It wasn’t anything big,” Fitzsimmons said. “But I thought, ‘Let’s not throw caution to the wind. I’m calling the boys over here.'” Lincoln County Communications received a call at 4:51 a.m. and the Wiscasset Fire Department’s Engine 6 responded to put out the small flame. Fitzsimmons called them back at 6:22 a.m. due to fear that the grease was still smoldering.
“It wasn’t a structural fire,” Wiscasset Fire Chief T.J. Merry said. “There was no damage. It was contained to the grill.”
A similar fire occurred at Ship’s Chow Hall in Wiscasset two years ago. While cleaning in preparation for breakfast Nov. 18, 2012, disrupted grease at the back of the grill ignited. The flames were contained with the help of a fire extinguisher before the fire department arrived.
“This is not a common occurrence,” Merry said. “They’re very good at keeping their grill clean.”
The most recent grease fire was a small bump in the road for Ship’s Chow Hall that did not prevent it from dishing out breakfast favorites to its loyal customers.
