MA Press:Fire destroys Iguana's restaurant (viaWes Papineau)

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Posted by Desiree on February 17, 2002 at 10:23:18:

courtesy of WesvP

2/13/2002

http://www.capecodonline.com/cctimes/archives/2002/feb/13/images/iggy13.jpg
Iggy the iguana, mascot of the Falmouth restaurant, takes refuge on the dashboard of a warm car after being rescued from the burning building yesterday afternoon.
(Staff photo by STEVE HEASLIP)

Fire destroys Iguana's restaurant
The 3-alarm blaze is believed to have started in the basement of the Falmouth eatery.
By PAULA PETERS
STAFF WRITER
FALMOUTH - A stubborn three-alarm fire at a popular Mexican restaurant burned for eight hours before it was brought under control last night.

More than 75 firefighters battled the blaze, which destroyed Iguana's restaurant in Tataket Square. While the cause of the fire, which began at noon, is still undetermined, Falmouth Fire Capt. William Howard said the fire began in the basement.

Falmouth firefighters were helped by departments from Bourne, Mashpee, Otis Air National Guard Base and two stations in Barnstable.

There were no injuries.

"Cellar fires are very difficult to extinguish," Howard said. "There were lots of combustible, concealed spaces. We had to get in there and open them up but we didn't want to lose anyone in the cellar."

With the main floor compromised and fire coming through the walls of the two-story colonial building, it was unsafe to send firefighters inside so the building smoldered for several hours.

Firefighters used axes, and then a power saw to tear clapboards off the building and expose the fire. As evening fell and heavy smoke was still pouring out of the restaurant, Cavossa Excavators was called to bring in a backhoe to tear open the back of the building. Shortly after 7 p.m., the fire was exposed and firefighters attacked it as the blaze flared.

Throughout the day the retail plaza at Tataket Square, which also includes a florist shop, hair and nail salon, and dental, law and mortgage offices, was surrounded by fire and rescue apparatus.

Despite the all-clear, Mashpee firefighters Mike Evaua and Chris Shute knew there was still cause for concern: Iggy was inside. Evaua and Shute rescued the 4-foot-long iguana who lives in a large aquarium at the top of the stairs on the second floor. "Chris used to work here," Evaua said, "he knew (Iggy) was in there."

But the 7-year-old orange-brown iguana was safe. Immediately after being rescued, Iggy took refuge in Megan Leary's running car.

"(It) likes to be warm," said Leary, a cook at the restaurant who described the iguana as "very friendly" and a favorite of the patrons, especially children. Seemingly annoyed by the strobe lights and attention from spectators tapping on the window, Iggy warmed itself on the dashboard raising the spines on its back.

"That's just something they do when they are establishing new territory," said reptile specialist Crystal Adams, who works across the Tea-ticket Highway at the Falmouth Pet Center, which is giving the reptile temporary lodging in a 75-gallon aquarium until the owner can make other arrangements.

Restaurant owner Richard Cunha was not ready to say if he would rebuild the business.

Waitress Kate Sullivan said she knew something was wrong when she noticed smoke coming through the vents in the dining room. At the time, there were no customers in the dining room.

Falmouth High School guidance counselor Sharon Kenny saw the commotion and stopped to lend support to the staff. Kenny said she regularly ate and socialized at the restaurant. "This is so sad," said Kenny, who had gathered with friends at Iguana's to watch the Super Bowl.

Fire destroys Iguana's restaurant

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: courtesy of WesvP : 2/13/2002 : http://www.capecodonline.com/cctimes/archives/2002/feb/13/images/iggy13.jpg : Iggy the iguana, mascot of the Falmouth restaurant, takes refuge on the dashboard of a warm car after being rescued from the burning building yesterday afternoon. : (Staff photo by STEVE HEASLIP) : Fire destroys Iguana's restaurant : The 3-alarm blaze is believed to have started in the basement of the Falmouth eatery. : By PAULA PETERS : STAFF WRITER : FALMOUTH - A stubborn three-alarm fire at a popular Mexican restaurant burned for eight hours before it was brought under control last night. : More than 75 firefighters battled the blaze, which destroyed Iguana's restaurant in Tataket Square. While the cause of the fire, which began at noon, is still undetermined, Falmouth Fire Capt. William Howard said the fire began in the basement. : Falmouth firefighters were helped by departments from Bourne, Mashpee, Otis Air National Guard Base and two stations in Barnstable. : There were no injuries. : "Cellar fires are very difficult to extinguish," Howard said. "There were lots of combustible, concealed spaces. We had to get in there and open them up but we didn't want to lose anyone in the cellar." : With the main floor compromised and fire coming through the walls of the two-story colonial building, it was unsafe to send firefighters inside so the building smoldered for several hours. : Firefighters used axes, and then a power saw to tear clapboards off the building and expose the fire. As evening fell and heavy smoke was still pouring out of the restaurant, Cavossa Excavators was called to bring in a backhoe to tear open the back of the building. Shortly after 7 p.m., the fire was exposed and firefighters attacked it as the blaze flared. : Throughout the day the retail plaza at Tataket Square, which also includes a florist shop, hair and nail salon, and dental, law and mortgage offices, was surrounded by fire and rescue apparatus. : Despite the all-clear, Mashpee firefighters Mike Evaua and Chris Shute knew there was still cause for concern: Iggy was inside. Evaua and Shute rescued the 4-foot-long iguana who lives in a large aquarium at the top of the stairs on the second floor. "Chris used to work here," Evaua said, "he knew (Iggy) was in there." : But the 7-year-old orange-brown iguana was safe. Immediately after being rescued, Iggy took refuge in Megan Leary's running car. : "(It) likes to be warm," said Leary, a cook at the restaurant who described the iguana as "very friendly" and a favorite of the patrons, especially children. Seemingly annoyed by the strobe lights and attention from spectators tapping on the window, Iggy warmed itself on the dashboard raising the spines on its back. : "That's just something they do when they are establishing new territory," said reptile specialist Crystal Adams, who works across the Tea-ticket Highway at the Falmouth Pet Center, which is giving the reptile temporary lodging in a 75-gallon aquarium until the owner can make other arrangements. : Restaurant owner Richard Cunha was not ready to say if he would rebuild the business. : Waitress Kate Sullivan said she knew something was wrong when she noticed smoke coming through the vents in the dining room. At the time, there were no customers in the dining room. : Falmouth High School guidance counselor Sharon Kenny saw the commotion and stopped to lend support to the staff. Kenny said she regularly ate and socialized at the restaurant. "This is so sad," said Kenny, who had gathered with friends at Iguana's to watch the Super Bowl.

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