x
Breaking News
More () »

Fire forces evacuation of Buford restaurant

The fire appears to have started near some power outlets in a storage area
Credit: Gwinnett Fire

BUFORD, Ga. -- About 25 people were forced to evacuate a Buford restaurant Monday after an electrical outlet caught fire.

Gwinnett Fire crews responded just after 1 p.m. to the Macaroni Grill at 3207 Buford Dr. - a restaurant in front of the Mall of Georgia. The call came from an employee who spotted smoke coming from the outlets in a back storage area near the kitchen. That smoke quickly spread and filled the restaurant.

An employee managed to douse the outlets with a portable fire extinguisher but no flames were ever visible. Patrons and employees alike had already made it out safely by the time fire crews arrived.

From there, firefighters entered the restaurant with a hose to check if the fire had spread. It was ultimately contained within the wall on the front-right corner of the building but caused extensive damage.

Crews did have to breach part of the wall from the outside to keep the fire from spreading, officials confirmed.

Before You Leave, Check This Out