Early morning fire damages county's newest family restaurant

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette

Monday, July 14, 2008, 3 a.m. -- One of the county's newest restaurants was heavily damaged by fire overnight.

About 2:45 this morning, fire was reported at the rear of Bryan's Salads & Grill. The business was so new that Nelson County Dispatch had no information on who to contact with the business regarding the fire.

A deputy sheriff who arrived first at the scene sized up the fire for responding firefighters. "Have we heard anything from the fire department, Dispatch?" the deputy asked, noting heavy fire in the roof and ceiling of the building.

Fire chief Anthony Mattingly asked Nelson County Dispatch to issue a third pager alert, noting that there were only 5 firefighters on hand to fight the structure fire.

Firefighters laid hoses from the nearest hydrants to fight the fire. Firefighters accessed the roof and reported the roof had not been burned through yet.

By 3:45 a.m., firefighters were fighting the fire inside the building, attempting to size-up the fire in the attic of the building.

A contact for the business was located and by 3:45 was on his way to the fire scene.

At press time firefighters continued to fight the fire. Developing ...