MANKATO – A popular Mankato restaurant will be closed for the rest of the week after a kitchen fire overnight Monday.
But Mankato fire officials say without some good luck, the fire that has shut Neighbors down through Monday could have been a lot worse.
Acting Fire Commander Sean Hayes say an employee discovered a smoky restaurant when they arrived Tuesday morning to open for the day.
Hayes says it appears a metal bin of greasy rags spontaneously combusted and flared up. The fortunate part appears to be that the flames melted a water supply line and that put out the fire.
Mankato fire was never called to respond to the incident. Hayes says they learned about the incident when they were contacted by the media Tuesday afternoon. He says restaurant officials contacted their insurance company and thought they would contact Mankato fire.
A fire investigator was scheduled to meet with the insurance company this morning.
Hayes urged restaurants to use caution when storing used grease rags.
He says in this case it appears the rags had been washed, but were placed together in the metal bin.
Hayes recommends restaurants wash and dry the rags on low heat. The damp rags should be dried out by spreading them out and not clumping together.
LISTEN -- Acting Mankato Fire Commander Sean Hayes on fire
LISTEN -- Acting Mankato Fire Commander Sean Hayes on combustion safety tips
LISTEN -- Acting Mankato Fire Commander Sean Hayes on fire
LISTEN -- Acting Mankato Fire Commander Sean Hayes on combustion safety tips