A Gaithersburg restaurant sustained extensive damage and a firefighter was injured in a Tuesday evening fire.
The blaze broke out at approximately 6:30 p.m. at Sardi’s Pollo a La Brasa restaurant on North Frederick Avenue and was likely caused by an HVAC system malfunction, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson Pete Piringer.
Update – 2nd Alarm Sardis Pollo a La Brasa, 400blk N Frederick Av, G burg, 1+sty commercial restaurant, fire in ductwork, extended through roof, ~85 FFs on scene pic.twitter.com/THcsVz816o
— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) November 21, 2018
All occupants of the building evacuated and none was injured, Piringer said.
When firefighters arrived, they witnessed heavy smoke coming from the roof and shortly after the fire burst through the ceiling.
The one-story building sustained more than $350,000 in damage, and one of approximately 100 firefighters sustained minor, nonlife-threatening injuries while battling the blaze, Piringer said.
Sardi’s offers an assortment of chicken-based dishes at its 10 Maryland locations, according to the restaurant’s website and was selected as a caterer for former president Barack Obama’s inaugural ball in 2009.
