It was not the kind of Friday-night special Maple City Taps regulars had in mind. A kitchen fire late Friday forced the Chardon Township tavern to shut down temporarily, the second local bar in about six months to be sidelined by a blaze. Firefighters got the flames under control in roughly 15 minutes and reported no injuries, but crews spent close to two hours opening up the roof and rear wall to chase down stubborn hot spots while other structure calls were already keeping first responders busy.
Fast knockdown, heavy smoke
Chardon Fire Department crews were dispatched to Maple City Taps around 8:22 p.m. and arrived to find heavy smoke pouring from the rear of the building and the kitchen vent, according to a department release reported by WOIO. Firefighters knocked down the visible flames in roughly 15 minutes, then stayed on scene to pull apart sections of the kitchen and rear wall for overhaul. The department said mutual-aid companies were called in to help stabilize the scene and support local crews.
Why crews stayed for hours
Assistant Chief Larry Gaspar said the fire started in the kitchen and worked its way into the rear wall. Because the structure is older, crews discovered two separate roofs over the kitchen and multiple layers of siding that all had to be opened up, a labor-intensive process that took about an hour and a half to ensure no lingering hot spots, according to a Chardon Fire Department press release reported by the Geauga County Maple Leaf. Gaspar also pointed to mutual aid from the Munson, Kirtland and Concord fire departments as crews worked the scene. The Geauga County Fire Investigation Unit is handling the probe into the cause.
Second tavern still rebuilding
Maple City Taps is not the only local watering hole recovering from flames. The Chardon Tavern, better known to locals as the Bev, suffered a roof fire in October and is still in the middle of an interior rebuild. The owners recently posted on Facebook that “we are hoping for first week of May,” an update reported by Cleveland.com. Earlier Chardon Tavern fire coverage followed that October incident and its aftermath. The owners of Maple City Taps have not yet given a timeline for reopening.
Investigation and next steps
The Geauga County Fire Investigation Unit is leading the effort to determine how the Maple City Taps fire started, according to reporting by the Geauga County Maple Leaf. Maple City Taps remains closed while the damage is assessed and repairs are planned, and nearby businesses and bar patrons are watching closely for updates. This story will be updated as official notices and statements from the owners are released.
