Hours before it was set to open for the day yesterday, a fire ripped through Junction Bar & Grill in El Cajon, leaving the neighborhood sports bar badly damaged but causing no reported injuries. Flames and thick smoke pushed into the attic above the restaurant and into adjoining suites in the small commercial center, as owners and staff watched from outside while crews moved in and inspectors geared up to tally the structural and financial hit.
Firefighters Knock Down Blaze In About 20 Minutes
Heartland Fire & Rescue crews were called out shortly before 9:30 AM and had the flames knocked down in roughly 20 minutes, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune. Firefighters concentrated on keeping the blaze from racing beyond the attic and checked neighboring businesses for smoke and water damage as the situation came under control.
Inspectors Peg Damage At $1.1 Million, Cause Still Under Review
Inspectors estimated about $1.1 million in damage to the restaurant and the shared roof structure, and the cause remains open. “The cause of the fire was under investigation,” Heartland spokesman Andy McKellar told The San Diego Union-Tribune. Because the flames made it into an attic space used by multiple tenants, questions about how long repairs will take and which neighbors might have to close temporarily surfaced almost immediately.
What It Means For Junction Bar & Grill
The El Cajon spot is listed as part of a small local chain on the Junction Bar & Grill website, which highlights its East County presence and nearby sister locations. Heartland Fire & Rescue, the multi-city agency that serves El Cajon, La Mesa and Lemon Grove, led the response, according to the department’s official site. The restaurant has not given a reopening date, and city inspectors and building officials will have to clear repair work before regulars can belly up to the bar again.
Next Steps For Neighboring Businesses
City building inspectors and fire investigators are expected to go over the scene in detail to determine whether maintenance issues, code problems or accidental factors played a role in how the fire spread. Neighboring tenants are likely looking at clean-up, insurance walkthroughs and possible short-term closures while repair plans are drawn up. Officials say they will release more information once investigators finish their review.
