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Popular metro restaurant closed until further notice due to fire Share Shares Copy Link Copy

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MAX: RIGHT NOW, A POPULAR DES MOINES RESTAURANT IS CLOSED AFTER A FIRE BROKE-OUT THIS AFTERNOON. LAURA: A FIRE IN A VENTILATION SYSTEM AT CENTRO CLOSED THE DOWNTOWN RESTAURANT. KCCI’S BEAU BOWMAN IS LIVE THERE AT 10TH AND LOCUST. BEAU: SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE SPEWING OUT OF THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING, YOU CAN SEE BUILT UP SOOT RIGHT BEHIND ME. CREWS WERE CALLED OUT A LITTLE BEFORE 1:00 THIS AFTERNOON. THE FIRE STARTED ABOVE THE WOOD FIRE GRILL IN THE VENTILATION SYSTEM. MOST OF THE DAMAGE WAS CONTAINED TO THE DUCT WORK. FIRE FIGHTERS HAD TO TEAR DOWN CEILING TILES TO GET TO THE FIRE. THEY ESTIMATE THE DAMAGE IS LESS THAN $10,000. BUT FIRE OFFICIALS SAID WHEN THEY GOT THERE, THERE WERE STILL CUSTOMERS EATING INSIDE, WHILE THE FIRE ALARMS WERE GOING OFF. >> WHEN WE ENTERED THE BUILDING, THERE WERE STILL 12 GROUPS STILL SITTING THERE EATING WITH SMOKE ALL AROUND THEM DIDN’T CARE, WE TOLD THEM THEY HAD TO GET OUT THEY WERE LIKE ’REALLY?’ YEAH, YOU HAVE TO LEAVE. BEAU: CAPTAIN RODRIGUEZ THINKS THE RESTAURANT WILL HAVE TO CLOSE FOR ABOUT A MONTH FOR REPAIRS. CENTRO EMPLOYEES DECLINED TO CO