Dempsey's restaurant sustains external damage, busy weekend for Watertown Fire Rescue
The exterior of a popular Watertown restaurant was damaged in a Saturday evening fire.
Watertown Fire Rescue responded to a fire outside Dempsey’s Brewery Pub and Restaurant, 127 N. Broadway on Saturday night.
The fire caused damage to the siding of the building, but no internal fire damage was sustained to the restaurant, according to a news release from the fire department.
At 6:27 p.m., Watertown Fire Rescue arrived on the scene to find the business owner using a garden hose to put out a pile of boxes that were being stored for recycling. Using thermal imaging cameras, Watertown Fire Rescue ensured that the fire did not extend into the building. First responders remained on the scene for approximately 25 minutes, per the release.
The Codington County Sheriff's Office and Watertown Police Department were also on the scene.
The cause of the fire wasn't released, but the fire department noted in a news release that people should place cigarette butt cans away from buildings and have some water in the bottom to prevent a fire on hot and windy days.
The call was part of a fairly busy few days for the department.
About 800 bales burn
Sunday morning, the department was called to a large bale fire at 4440 168th St.
The fire was in a large hay storage lot and apparently started Saturday night and progressed to all of the bales, according to a news release. After consulting with the landowner, the fire was turned into a controlled burn and the bales are expected to burn for several days. Local residents might notice a light haze or the smell of burning vegetation because of the fire.
That call was about 6:45 a.m. Watertown Fire Rescue was assisted by the Henry Fire Department.
Then, around 5:30 Monday morning, Watertown Fire Rescue was called to Pelican Plaza for a dumpster fire.
"Upon arrival, crews found a dumpster with flames coming from the top. The fire was not threatening any structures or vehicles," according to a news release.
Crews put out the fire and were on the scene for about 30 minutes. The Codington County Sheriff's Office also responded.
The fire department also responded about 5:50 a.m. Saturday when a vehicle crashed into Duces Casino at 137 Fifth St. N.E.
This article originally appeared on Watertown Public Opinion: Dempseys sustains external damage after recyclables catch fire
