It was a close call on Pearl Street in Boulder, where black smoke billowed from the beloved SALT restaurant. According to the City of Boulder, Boulder Fire-Rescue crews rolled up to 1047 Pearl Street last Monday evening to find the fire already gnawing through the establishment's roof. The fire, which erupted around 7:57 p.m., triggered an immediate response, with the Boulder Police Department springing into action to safely evacuate the building and its neighbours as a precaution.
The swiftly spreading flames urged the incident's Battalion Chief to quickly upgrade to a two-alarm fire by 8:00 p.m. This move wasn't made lightly; it was to effectively call in additional support from within and from Boulder's partnering agencies. Firefighters weren't just battling one crisis; they were also tasked to simultaneously respond to other service calls in the city, a juggling act that only heightened the night's tension.
Fire Investigators, with the kind of resolve that pushes through smoke and ember, were on the scene even as the flames fought back. After a thorough investigation, they determined that the fire's birth was accidental, sparked by an innocent culprit, the kitchen's cooking equipment. This information was disclosed in a statement obtained by Boulder Fire-Rescue, quelling rumors that might have otherwise spread like wildfire themselves.
SALT, unfortunately, bore the scars of the incident with significant damage reported, though, by some grace, no injuries were sustained. The adjacent buildings didn't escape unscathed, suffering from minor smoke impacts. Information regarding the restoration and reopening of the affected buildings can be sought from the property manager, but the relief that no one was hurt seemed almost palpably felt across Boulder's community.
