Fire hits Lobster Pot restaurant

Two customers and five staff members had to clear out of the Lobster Pot restaurant on the George Town waterfront late Thursday afternoon after smoke was seen inside the business.

Cayman Islands Fire Service crews were on scene of the incident shortly after 5.30pm. Firefighters said it appeared smoke was coming from somewhere inside the restaurant’s air conditioning ducts.

Acting Fire Chief Rosworth McLaughlin said it was reported to fire officers that the restaurant’s roof had caught fire, but no flames could actually be seen coming from the building from the outside.

However, restaurant manager Gunter Gosch said there were flames coming from the ceiling inside of the building.

“The fire started on one side of the building,” Mr. Gosch said. “There was smoke that carried through the restaurant. We made sure everybody got out. It didn’t long for smoke to get around the room.”

No one was injured during the evacuation.

Caribbean Utilities Company staff also responded to the fire.

A section of Harbour Drive/North Church Street was blocked to traffic while firefighters investigated the situation. No cause was given for the fire.

Lobster Pot owner Marcus Cumber said Friday that it was too early to tell how long it would take the restaurant to re-open in the wake of the fire, however he said that was the plan.

“We want to re-open as soon as possible,” Mr. Cumber said. “We want to be open for the high [tourism] season.”