A Brookfield policeman discovered an early morning fire today at R.P. McMurphy’s Sports Bar and Grill in Masury.
Flames were limited to the bar’s porch, and it is unknown whether the damage will affect operation of the bar.
The policeman saw smoke and checked out the source, police said. Upon discovering the fire at 1428 Standard Ave., he knocked on the door of the apartment attached to the bar and roused two occupants, police said. Using fire extinguishers and garden hoses, they started battling the blaze, officials said.
“By the time we got there, there still was a little bit of fire and there was heavy smoke pouring out from under the eaves,” said Brookfield Fire Chief David Masirovits. “We were able to extinguish what little bit was left.”
Firefighters were called at about 3:45 a.m. The fire started in a corner of the porch, he said.
“It burned up into the roof, across that roof, down the other side,” Masirovits said.
The chief said he advised the owners to consult with their insurance company before deciding whether to reopen the bar or reuse the porch, but he did not ban them from resuming normal operations.
“Although there is damage to the structure of the porch, there’s nothing that would limit them from using it,” Masirovits said. “There’s no burn-through on any of the structural members. There’s deep charring but nothing that would stop them from using that area, besides the aesthetics of a fire.”
There was no damage to the building or the apartment, he said.
Firefighters from Sharon, Hubbard and Burghill-Vernon assisted.
The porch has TVs and heaters, and firefighters believe the cause was electrical, although it will be up to the insurance company to determine a definitive cause, Masirovits said.
A state fire marshal has not been asked to investigate the cause. “I don’t believe it’s suspicious at all,” Masirovits said.
The Trumbull County Auditor lists the building’s owners as Paul and David Driscoll, and the business is owned by P & D Driscoll Inc.
Attempts to contact ownership were not successful.
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