Cook, customer burned in tableside mishap at Ocala Japanese restaurant
A cook and a customer who were burned at a Japanese restaurant on Thursday were transported to UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville.
Ocala police officials said the incident happened at Edo Sushi & Japanese Steakhouse, 4414 SW College Road, Unit 301. Authorities did not know the extent of the injuries.
A sign posted at the restaurant door on Thursday stated: "Due to unfortunate circumstances we will be closed for the rest of the night. We apologize for the inconvenience." The note was signed by Edo management.
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Good Samartians
A retired Marion County Fire Rescue lieutenant, Kenneth Bergdoll, was inside the restaurant at the time of the fire. Bergdoll told a Star-Banner reporter the cook was prepping the meal at a tableside grill. He said the man had a bottle of liquid in one hand and a spatula in the other. The spatula was used by the cook to place flames onto the grill, Bergdoll said.
But Bergdoll said the fire made its way from the grill back toward the bottle, which exploded in the cook's hand. The cook's shirt caught fire. Bergdoll said he and another patron removed the cook's shirt and T-shirt.
The retired fire official said other employees rushed to the spot of the fire with a fire extinguisher, and they were able to put out the flames that were on the ground. Bergdoll said he himself was burned by contact with the cook's clothes.
Bergdoll said he believes the cook suffered first-, second- and third-degree burns on his body. A woman, sitting approximately 3-4 feet away from the cook, was burned on her neck and hair, Bergdoll said. He thinks the woman suffered first-degree burns.
Bergdoll and the other Good Samaritan, who declined to comment because he was shaken up, appeared fine.
A couple who was also in the restaurant said they saw flames, heard a pop, and then heard people screaming.
Inspection planned
Ocala fire officials said a fire inspector arrived at the location to look at the site. Officials said the inspector will review the site and make a determination on when the restaurant will be able to re-open.
Police officials said they notified building and health inspectors, as well as the Occupational, Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) about the incident.
Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com or @almillerosb
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Tableside fire at Ocala Japanese restaurant injures cook, patron
