Crime & Safety
Small Fire Closes Fraiche
The moring fire was quickly contained to the restaurant's ducting. The manager hopes to reopen Wednesday.
A fire in the ducting at Tuesday morning closed the restaurant, at the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Third Street, until at least Wednesday.
Employees working in the kitchen said they were prepping to open when a wood-burning pizza oven got too hot and quickly filled the vents with smoke.
The Santa Monica Fire Department reported containing the small blaze to the vents and doused the flames within 15 minutes. No one was injured.
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"Our guys opened up the wall, squirted some water up in there and got the fire under control," said Capt. Judah Mitchell.
General Manager Sterling Mix was forced to cancel's Tuesday's reservations and sent employees home. He said hopes to reopen Wednesday pending approval from city inspectors.
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Firefighters remained on scene until after noon putting out hot spots.
On Friday, a . The brick building was yellow-tagged over the weekend, displacing tenants who were sheltered temporarily by the local chapter of the Red Cross.
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