Fire damages ventilation system at restaurants

Huntington Beach firefighters managed to stop a fire at the downtown building holding restaurants Duke’s and Savannah at the Beach, authorities said.

At 6:39 p.m. Sept. 18, the Huntington Beach Fire Department, with help from other nearby departments, responded to calls of a fire at the restaurants next to the pier. Fire and heavy smoke were coming out of the ventilation system of the building shared by both restaurants, according to authorities. In total, 51 firefighters were on scene, and the fire was extinguished that evening, according to city staff.

The ventilation system had fire damage, and some nearby wood elements of the building took heat damage, authorities said. All patrons were safely evacuated, and business resumed at both restaurants the next day.

— Michael Alexander