Bar fire cause undetermined
Light fixture or cleaning chemical-soaked rags considered likely causes: fire marshal
Shane Magee
Northern News Services
Friday, May 6, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The fire marshal says a fire that damaged and closed Coyote's Steakhouse & Lounge on Range Lake Road in February was likely caused by spontaneous combustion of cleaning fluid-soaked rags or a light fixture over those rags.
Chucker Dewar said the investigation has now wrapped up with the official cause listed as undetermined because the evidence was burned. Even surveillance footage showing the exact spot where the fire begins was too smoky to help pin down the exact cause, he said.
"Even in this instance we have video of the area of origin," Dewar said in an interview Wednesday. "But to determine the origin, you have to demonstrate that - you have to prove it. In this case the rags were gone and so was the electrical equipment."
The fire in the early morning hours of Feb. 21 began in a food preparation area of the kitchen, Dewar said. The light was under a shelf of the food prep area, he said.
Dewar said linseed oil or gas soaked rags can spontaneously combust.
"It's the kind of chemicals that are in there, it's an internal reaction and it results in self-heating resulting in high temperatures and ignition," he said.
He said it's important for people to understand whether materials can cause spontaneous combustion and to not stack rags soaked with linseed oil or gas.
"Air them out really well and (understand) the chemicals you're working with and what the potential fire safety threat is. Read the labels," Dewar said.
The investigation to determine the cause involved a lot of work, he said, including interviews with staff, interviews with firefighters who responded and a thorough examination of the scene as well as the video of the fire.
"Every scene tells a story. Sometimes you can't figure it out exactly," Dewar said. "It depends on the damage."
A city news release after the fire estimated the damage was at least $100,000 to the business.
When reached Wednesday evening, Coyote's owner Edward But said he wasn't able to do an interview immediately.
After the fire, But said he planned to rebuild the business, though he didn't have contents insurance.
He then opened up a downtown location called Coyote's Bistro on Franklin at the intersection of 50 Avenue and 46 Street several weeks after the fire.
