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Worker’s cigarette caused fire at Grandville Red Lobster

Posted at 3:55 PM, May 20, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-21 12:52:05-04

GRANDVILLE, Mich. — The Grandville Fire Department has determined the cause of a Friday afternoon fire at the Red Lobster restaurant.

“The fire was determined to be accidental,” Grandville fire chief Mike May said Saturday, “and was caused by a roofing contractor handling combustible materials while smoking a cigarette.”

At 2:33 p.m. Friday, fire crews were called to the Red Lobster restaurant at 3464 Rivertown Pointe Court near the Rivertown Crossings mall in Grandville for a fire on the roof. Upon arriving, firefighters discovered a fire on the roof and in the adjacent parapet wall that was extinguished within 20 minutes.

The fire did not extend inside the restaurant. Damage was confined to the roof decking and parapet wall.

Two roofing contractors who were working at the site sustained minor injuries attempting to put the fire out, and were treated by EMS personnel and released at the scene.

A Grandville firefighter also was transported to Metro Hospital to be treated for heat exhaustion. He was admitted to the hospital and remained hospitalized in good condition Saturday.

Georgetown Township and Wyoming firefighters assisted the Grandville Fire Department at the scene.