Alarm at Arcade turns out to be electrical short

[April 16, 2011]  The Lincoln Fire Department received a report of a fire in the grill at Guzzardo's restaurant at 9:48 a.m. Friday. When firefighters arrived, there was no fire in the grill, but the building owner said the fire was in the basement of 511 Pulaski St. Occupants said smoke was in the basement and in the Arcade restaurant on the first floor, and they were evacuating the building.

Upon investigating the basement, firefighters found no fire visible but discovered light smoke and a fire-damaged fuse box and wiring.

Damage was estimated at $2,000.

Mutual aid companies were canceled and returned to quarters. Assistance was provided by off-duty Lincoln Fire Department firefighters, Lincoln Rural Fire Protection District, Ameren, Logan County Department of Public Health, Lincoln Police Department and the city street department.

As Ameren electrical crews arrived and isolated the electrical short, several businesses were without power. An electrical contractor arrived to repair the problem as firefighters cleared the scene.

Smoke was ventilated from the restaurant. The health department arrived, inspected and cleared the scene with no further action.

The lead investigator for the fire department was Jason Van Winkle, and the shift officer in charge was Robert Dunovsky.

[Text from news release from Lincoln Fire Department]