A fire destroyed Barbara’s Cedar House Restaurant Tuesday morning in the Johnson’s Chapel Community.
Central dispatch received the call at 9:05 a.m.
County Fire Chief Donny Green told WJLE that the restaurant was closed when a passerby saw heavy black smoke coming from the building and alerted 911.
County firefighters were dispatched to the scene and made entry at the rear of the building, but Chief Green said the fire had already reached the attic. Firefighters were unable to save the structure but kept it from spreading to a 20 foot enclosed utility trailer just eight feet away from the building. The trailer held some $20,000 worth of restaurant equipment.
Members of the Johnson’s Chapel, Short Mountain Highway, and Midway stations of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department responded. Local firefighters also received support under a mutual aid agreement with White County from volunteers with the Cassville Fire Department who brought a pumper and tanker to help fight the fire.
The fire apparently started in the kitchen of the restaurant but the cause is undetermined.
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