St. Simons Island, GALocal officials have ruled that the fast-moving fire that destroyed the Southern Soul BBQ restaurant in St. Simons was most likely an accident, although the investigation will continue.
The local fire department arrived on the scene of the blaze at 11:22 am on March 27 and found the building engulfed in flames and spewing heavy smoke from its second story. Four engines, two emergency squads and five other vehicles eventually brought 28 paid and volunteer firefighters to the scene.
The Brunswick news reports that the incident occurred at the beginning of the restaurant's lunch rush. The staff rushed diners to safety seconds before the roof collapsed over the 50-year-old local landmark.
Ray Marat, the Deputy Fire Chief of Glynn County, claims that investigators have turned up nothing suspicious and will most likely attribute the blaze to accidental causes, according to the Florida Times Union.
Southern Soul Barbeque held a storied history in the area, serving as both a gas station and a seafood shop during its five-decade lifespan.
"We're definitely going to keep going," Kitty Sapp, a co-owner and overseer of the dining room, told the Times. "We're down, but we're not out."
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