Fire causes extensive damage to Colorado Springs restaurant
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- The Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) got the call just before midnight Wednesday of a fire at the Gunther Toody's restaurant on E. Woodmen Road. When crews arrived, they saw flames through the front windows and upgraded the call, bringing more resources to the location.
One of those firefighters sustained a lower leg injury while fighting the fire and was taken to the hospital. However, CSFD tells KRDO that the firefighters have since been released.
"There's going to be pretty extensive damage inside the restaurant, an unknown how long it might be closed," said Colorado Springs Fire Captain Mike Smaldino. "But definitely it will not be open here for a little bit.”
Crews initially knocked down the fire in the rear of the restaurant but noticed flames had been hidden in some spots, so they briefly called for a second alarm.
Fire units working to find the seat of the fire. Multiple hand lines operating. pic.twitter.com/JmHAglbZg5
— CSFD PIO (@CSFDPIO) September 22, 2022
The fire is now out and crews are determined any hot spots were put out.
Now, the haze of smoke surrounding the Gunther Toody's on Woodmen Road is replaced by a haze of fog -- the flames gone, but recovery efforts just beginning.
Richard Weil, CFO of Gunther Toody's locations in Colorado Springs, says he got the call just after midnight.
"First, it's a little shock, of course," said Weil. "And then secondly, it's 'is everybody OK', number one? Was anybody hurt?”
Weil says their biggest concern now is how the damage will impact their ability to reopen, and when their staff can get back to work.
"We have almost 30 people employed here," said Weil. "Our priority is to give them information and to see what we can do to make sure that they've got answers to their questions.”
Extensive damage was reported to the inside of the restaurant, and there is no estimated date of reopening. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
