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WAYNESVILLE — A major attraction in this quaint village was heavily damaged today by one of the largest fires in the town’s history.
Flames could be seen shooting 50 feet in the air when firefighters arrived at the Der Dutchman Restaurant on U.S. 42.
More than 20 employees and 30 diners were in the restaurant when the fire started in the kitchen around 9:20 a.m., according to fire officials. The restaurant was serving breakfast at the time.
The fire started in a chicken roaster in the kitchen, said Jaime Schaffer, a head server.
Schaffer said employees tried to put the fire out with extinguishers and thought they had the flames put out when it reignited and spread.
“Flames were shooting to the roof,” Schaffer said.
Fire officials would not confirm the cause of the fire and said the State Fire Marshal is investigating.
Patrons in the building, which can seat 760, were evacuated before smoke entered the dining room and fire crews arrived, according to Greg Zemore, the restaurant’s general manager.
Everyone was able to escape without injury.
“The staff reacted well and they did what they could do,” Zemore said. “We don’t know what damages there are. We’ll see what the future holds for us... we’re just in the dark right now.”
A major portion of the roof collapsed in the center of the 22,000-square-foot facility, according to Wayne Twp. Fire Cpt. Glen Beach.
The fire was under control around 11:30 a.m., but firefighters were still looking for hot spots in the building.
“We’re very fortunate to have several fire hydrants nearby for a fire this size,” Beach said. “It helped us to have a good water supply.”
First responders could see smoke from Interstate 75 and flames could be seen shooting from the center of the restaurant when they arrived. More than 60 firefighters from seven fire departments helped fight the fire.
“Fighting fires in your hometown is tough. The Der is a fine establishment. It’s hard to see them have a fire like this,” Beach said.
The restaurant did not have sprinklers and was not required by law. The facility used fire walls to protect separate rooms from flames, according to Wayne Twp. Fire Chief Paul Scherer.
Zemore said his wallet and financial documents were retrieved from his office and they had no water or fire damage.
Located at 230 N. U.S. 42 in Waynesville on the banks of a mill race, Der Dutchman is a family-style restaurant that also sells baked goods and novelties in an adjacent store. The restaurant promotes southern style cooking, such as fried chicken and baked pies and has a popular Saturday morning breakfast buffet.
In the summertime, the restaurant has popular tourist events including buggy rides and serves as a community center for several annual events including a sauerkraut cooking competition prior to the Sauerkraut festival.
The restaurant is owned by Dutch Corp. which operates several Der Dutchman restaurants in the region.
Zemore said the restaurant employs 102 people and has the capacity to hold 336 in the dining room plus an additional 400 in the banquet room.
According to tax records, the office and retail area were constructed in the early 1970s with the main restaurant portion built in 1991.
The restaurant, valued at a little more than $2.5 million according to tax records, is a major economic driver in Waynesville and Warren County. The restaurant paid $52,435 in property taxes to the county in 2009.
A cost estimate for the damage caused is not expected until Thursday, fire officials said.
“It’s a loss to our community, hopefully they can get back on their feet quickly,” Beach said.
This is the second fire to destroy a restaurant in the village in the past decade. McDonald’s on Main Street was destroyed in September 2005.
A fire on April 7, 1900, leveled all the buildings on Main Street from North to Chapman streets. The fire destroyed all of the village’s records.
“The community is in mourning with the Dutch Corp. and the staff. The restaurant is a regional landmark. Everyone knows where it’s at. People come from all over the tri-state area to visit. It provides a lot of jobs,” Village manager Bruce Snell said.
“We look forward to seeing it up and running again.”
Businesses in the village were noticing discoloration in the water supply shortly after the fire. Snell said sediment was stirred up because of the large amount of water used. The village’s water towers were being filled and Snell expected the problem to be temporary.
Three fire and water restoration companies were at the restaurant in the afternoon.
Zemore said people who have booked receptions at the facility can call (513) 897-3791 to find out more information.
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