UPDATED: Tackle Box and Hook Closed Indefinitely After Fire Damages Both Restaurants
The fire began in the rear of Hook around 12:30 Wednesday and affected both Tackle Box and the Saloun.
Photos
Update, 9 p.m. Wednesday
D.C. Fire and EMS initial estimate for damage is at least between $50,000 and $100,000 plus contents and collateral according to the agency's twitter account.
Update, 4:28 p.m.
The owner of Tackle Box and Hook restarurants, Jonathan Umbel, release a statement Wednesday afternoon in which he thanked the quick response of D.C. Fire and EMS. The cause of the blaze is still under investigation; it is believed to have started in the loading dock to Hook.
"Unfortunately both Hook and Tackle Box Georgetown are going to be closed for repairs indefinitely. We will be working feverishly to repair the buildings to have them open for business for our loyal patrons. During this difficult time, Tackle Box's Cleveland Park location will be open for business and we ask our fans to support our brand so that we may be back on our feet in Georgetown soon," said Umbel.
Update, 2:07 p.m.
The fire at Hook Restaurant started outside the building and not in the kitchen, according to Dannia Haki, a spokesperoon for Hook and Tackle Box.
Right now the owners do not know how much damage the building has sustained. Both Hook and Tackle Box will be closed for at least the next two days.
Hakki said there were staff at the location when the fire began and that everyone was safely evacuated.
Update, 1:56 p.m.
D.C. Fire and EMS has released more details about the fire at Hook on M Street. Spokesman Pete Piringer said the fire started at about 12:30 p.m. in the rear of the restaurant. Heavy smoke was visible on M Street, but the bulk of the fire was contained in the back.
The majority of the fire was out approximately 10 to 15 minutes after fire crews arrived on the scene, Piringer said. About 100 firefighters were on the scene at the height of the emergency.
Intially, crews had trouble accessing the rear of the building because of a fence in the alleyway, but they were able to gain entry through the front of the building, Piringer said.
The Tackle Box and Saloun sustained smoke damage, although the fire did not spread beyond Hook, which suffered significant damage, Piringer said.
The cause is under investigation. No injuries have been reported.
Update, 1:24 p.m.
According to information posted to Twitter by D.C. Fire and EMS, no injuries have been reported in the fire. Surrounding businesses in Georgetown on M Street are not in danger either, the department reports.
The bulk of the fire inside Hook has been contained, reports indicate.
Original Post
D.C. Fire and EMS are responding to a fire on the 3200 block of M Street. Famous DC is reporting that the fire is either at Tackle Box or Hook Restaurant.
Initial reports indicate that the fire started in a storage area and extended to the second floor / roof area.
The fire on the fist floor has been knocked down and a roof fire is being controlled.
Stay tuned to Patch as this story evolves.
SAM
7:54 am on Thursday, June 30, 2011
Tackle Box uses wood burning ovens.
The owners of tackle box store large quantities of dry fire wood in the back of the building allocated as the trash area. They have no loading dock. There they keep large barrels of used deep fry kitchen oil .
On a regular basis everyday they put charred wood still ignited on metal pans to burn down to ashes.
What happened is pure neglect on behalf of the ownenrs of Tackle box. They have been practicing this hazardous way of doining business since they opened their business in Georgetown.
This incident was bound to happen. They should not be allowed to operate any type of oven using fire wood. Georgetown is full of old buildings and this hazardous way of business practice by the ownership of tackle box should be stopped once and for all before they burn down the entire block of M street in Georgetown .
If the fire department goes through the ruble of the area, they will find evidence of large quantities of fire wood & open oil drums in the rear of the Tackle box where the trash is stored
SAM
3:38 am on Saturday, July 2, 2011
Mr. Jonathan Umbel Of the Tackle Box one year ago to date in June 2010 when the neighbor's wooden fence was put up at the rear of the property threathened to not only burn down the fence but also burn down the neighbor's building. At the time the police from the 2nd District were called in and a complaint was lodged againt Mr. Umbel the owner of Tackle Box. What happened on June 29th was not an accidental fire in the restaurant. The neighbor's wooden fence in the back of the building was set on fire from the Tackle Box side of the fence. This is a clear and intentional act of Arson. There should be a criminal investigation by the authorities into Mr. Umbel's intentions and criminal act. The pictures of the fire show clearly that the wooden frnce was set on fire.