An electrical inspection after a minor grease fire allegedly uncovered major safety violations at the Burger King in Ansonia Sunday.
In fact, the issues were such that a city electrical inspector slapped a yellow “UNSAFE” sticker on the front door and barred the public from entering. It’s the first time the inspector has closed a restaurant during his 21 years in Ansonia.
Burger King was still closed Thursday.
Firefighters were sent to the restaurant Sunday (March 1) to put out a grease fire inside the restaurant, which is at the corner of Pershing and Division.
Burger King’s gas-fired hot water heater was much too close to a mop sink, a big no-no in terms of safety, according to David Blackwell, Sr., Ansonia’s zoning enforcement officer.
Blackwell explained the danger:
“What happens is the water splashes, puts out the (pilot light of the) hot water tank, and it emits gas,” Blackwell said.
A picture of the building’s boiler room, taken by Ansonia electrical inspector Bob Dunn during his inspection, is above.
If the pilot light on the water heater were to go out, Dunn said, the heater would stop sending gas to the unit’s burner.
“The pilot gas isn’t a lot of gas, but you would definitely smell it and notice it’s a problem,” Dunn said. “They were in no danger of blowing up or anything.”
Other violations alleged by the city: rust on a water pipe, a blocked fresh air inlet for the hot water heater, and a lack of a fire-resistant door in the boiler room, where the hot water heater sits.
The property’s owner will have to correct the problems before the restaurant opens again.
According to city land records, the property is owned by a limited liability corporation managed by Alvaro Da Silva, a Shelton-based developer.
The Valley Indy left a message at Da Silva’s office Thursday.
Blackwell said a contractor obtained a building permit to make some of the repairs. However, no permits for the electrical or plumbing just yet.
The Naugatuck Valley Health District also responded to the restaurant after the fire. Dave Rogers, the health district’s assistant director of environmental health, said his agency routinely responds after fires at restaurants to make sure cleanup is done properly and any contaminated food gets thrown out.
In addition to Dunn’s notice, a handwritten “CLOSED” sign was posted one of the doors to the restaurant.
But a steady stream of would-be customers still rolled into the drive-thru lane to order food before realizing the business was closed.
The Valley Indy sent an email to Burger King’s press office Thursday afternoon.
A city ordinance permits the city to fine the property owner up to $100 a day for violating the building code, but John Marini, the city’s corporation counsel, said that probably won’t happen.
“There is a penalty mechanism, but we’re very dedicated to the idea of working with business owners, not trying to paint them into corners,” he said. “So our building department wants the work done right and for Burger King to open as quickly as possible so they could start to serve their Whoppers again.”
Shouldn’t the city come down harder on a property owner if code violations create a possible public hazard?
“It’s a business that makes money on a daily basis that has been closed,” Marini said. “Already there is a consequence, there’s a loss of revenue. That’s a big incentive. You’re losing money every minute that you’re not open.”
