No Injuries as Firefighters Contain Blaze at Downtown Miami's Zuma Restaurant

Downtown Miami and the area surrounding Biscayne Boulevard was shrouded in smoke following a kitchen fire at Zuma restaurant located inside the Kimpton EPIC Hotel yesterday afternoon. The incident, which Miami Fire-Rescue responded to at approximately 12:45 p.m., resulted in no reported injuries and was confined to the restaurant itself, sparing the hotel from damage.

As reported by CBS News Miami, the fire began inside a kitchen hood's vent, and firefighters were able to successfully intervene to rapidly contain the flames. The response team was forced to quickly engage additional resources upon realizing the scope of the blaze. The emergency sprinkler system within the establishment was also activated, providing assistance in the suppression effort.

Cellphone footage captured thick smoke escaping from the hotel as bystanders watched the scene unfold. Despite the dramatic visuals, the WSVN report confirmed the fire's restriction to the Zuma restaurant, with no spread to the EPIC hotel or neighboring buildings.

According to a statement obtained by NBC Miami, smoke coverage was extensive enough to notably obscure parts of the Brickell Avenue Drawbridge, signifying the scale of the incident as firefighters worked to thoroughly ventilate the affected restaurant. Zuma will remain closed indefinitely due to the extensive smoke and subsequent water damage sustained during the incident.

The city health inspector alongside Miami Fire-Rescue is set to assess and investigate the precise circumstances that led to the fire. Meanwhile, the EPIC Hotel has resumed normal operations, and the full reopening date for Zuma restaurant has not yet been disclosed.