Midway Fire Chief Shannon Stone told Navarre Press there was a small, isolated fire in the drop ceiling at the rear of the restaurant. Smoke had filled the restaurant, prompting employees to call 911.
“Our guys got here quick and we got a quick stop on it,” Stone said. “I would describe it as moderate damage. It was a relatively small fire.”
Stone wasn’t sure how long Popeye’s plans to be closed but indicated that damage wasn’t significant enough to keep them closed for very long.
“If they were closed the rest of the day, I’d be surprised,” Stone said. “The damage wasn’t in the kitchen area.”
The origin of the fire is believed to be an electrical issue. Popeye’s is located on the north side of Highway 98, across from Starbucks Coffee.
