Fandangle's fire ruled 'accidental' by state fire marshal

Degnan critical of delay in calling 911, lack of sprinkler or fire alarm system

The fire that destroyed Fandangle's Restaurant in North Conway Sunday afternoon has been officially ruled accidental, according to State Fire Marshal J. William Degnan, North Conway Fire Chief Patrick Preece and Conway Police Chief Edward Wagner.The fire was the result of an electrical failure in one of the building's electric distribution panels in the basement, Degnan said in a Sept. 18 press statement.Preece said the department was called to the fire site again Monday at midnight by a Center Conway firefighter. Preece said debris in the basement was smoldering. Firefighters spent another three hours at the site, he said, using an excavator to move the debris, and also shot more water at the hot spot. Preece said approximately 320,000 to 400,00 gallons of water were used to fight the fire, which he described Monday as one of the toughest he has ever fought.In his report, Degnan was critical of there being no water sprinkler system or fire alarm system at the restaurant. He also found fault with the delay between the discovery of the fire by employees and the time that the fire department was called.Under the current fire code, Fandangle's was not required to have either a fire alarm or fire sprinkler system, according to the fire marshal's office.Fire alarm systems are your first line of defense in a fire emergency. These systems provide early detection of smoke or other products of combustion. Equally important is a properly installed fire sprinkler system. These systems are temperature sensitive and activate only in the needed area to either control or suppress the fire, Degnan said, adding that either system could have possibly limited the fire damage to the building. Degnan said employers are always encouraged to train employees in proper evacuation procedures and the proper use and limitations of portable fire extinguishers.The lack of those essential life safety systems and the employees' attempts to fight the fire before contacting authorities resulted in a significant delay in the fire being reported, Degnan said, adding, The actions of the employees should have included an immediate evacuation of the building and an immediate call to 911 reporting the fire.Owner Wally Campbell told The Conway Daily Sun Monday morning that morning that his kitchen employees had gone down into the basement to try and fight the fire with extinguishers and that when he went down to investigate why the power was off in one section of the building he discovered the employees, who yelled up for him to throw down another fire extinguisher. Campbell who had nothing but praise for his employees said the phone system was out and that the fire department was called via someone's cell phone.Meanwhile, fellow restaurateurs have stepped in to help Campbell as he recovers from the fire and looks to continue his catering business and prepare for the upcoming Fryeburg Fair, where he operates a restaurant.A lot of us have pitched in, said Merlino's owner Rick Luciano Wednesday. Luciano has hired several of Campbell's employees to help him during the busy fall foliage season as Merlino's plans to add daily lunch to its offerings. We're adding to our staff. And [former Red Jacket general manager] Carl Lindblade has been talking with some of Wally's employees, counseling them and helping them with their options.Asked to comment on Campbell, who is head of the locally-based 20-member Valley Originals Independent Restaurant Association, Luciano said, He's had a huge influence over the years. He was president of the Mount Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce in the 1980s, and he helped found our Valley Originals organization and has served as our president and point person, along with Dewey Mark of the Red Parka.The fire at Fandangle's was reported to authorities shortly after 1 p.m. Sunday by employees of the facility after they had discovered the fire.During the course of the investigation, employees told investigators that they observed the lights in the building flickering on and off, then observed smoke coming through the floor. Employees then attempted to fight the fire, exhausting five portable extinguishers in the effort, before being told by Campbell to leave the building. As employees evacuated, they also evacuated the approximately 100 customers in the restaurant.Campbell said he was insured and that he planned to rebuild, but that he had not had time to make detailed decisions.He said he was concerned about his employees and customers, as well as the two firefighters who experienced electrical shock when they attempted to put out the fire in the basement. Those firefighters Conway Fire Chief Larry Wade and Assistant North Conway Fire Chief Wayne McDonald were treated and released at The Memorial Hospital Sunday.