Fire Forces Evacuation

Ward County's sheriff and chief deputy turned into firefighters today. Sheriff Vern Erck and his ...  More »

Ward County's sheriff and chief deputy turned into firefighters today. Sheriff Vern Erck and his deputy were first at the scene of a fire at Country Kitchen just west of Minot. They joined staff at the restaurant to use fire extinguishers, trying to keep the fire from spreading beyond the exhaust fans above the kitchen. Workers said a small kitchen fire spread into the exhaust fan system. The real firefighters quickly arrived and went to work putting out the fire. Several workers and customers had to evacuate the restaurant and adjoining Behm's Truckstop. (Vern Erck, Ward Co. Sheriff)"There were probably 30 people involved in both the gas station and the restaurant and they were evacuated. Everybody's safe - I just talked to one of the workers and everybody got out in time." JIM OLSON Firefighters from Minot Rural and Burlington fought the fire. The truckstop at Behm's has reopened, but the restaurant - Country Kitchen - is closed for now. A worker there says until insurance adjustors get a look at the mess, it's not known when the restaurant will be able to re-open.  « Less