SUNNYSIDE

A shingle fire broke out on the roof of Sunnyside Restaurant and Lodge at 5:50 p.m. on Sept. 11. The North Tahoe Fire Protection District’s Battalion Chief Scot Sedgwick suspects it was caused by an ember from the building’s chimney, though said he could only speculate.

An employee responded to the fire last week with an extinguisher before  NTFPD arrived at the scene and finished putting out the fire.

Sedgwick said the fire was contained to the building’s shingles and did not reach the roofing layers below. As such, there was no further damage and only the shingles will need to be replaced. Operations continued immediately and Sunnyside did not have to close.

Sedgwick said Sunnyside will need to undergo a chimney inspection, as creosote, a highly flammable residue coming from smoke and burnt wood particles, can build up and cause fire danger.

The fire protection district recommends chimney inspections and chimney sweeps to prevent the accumulation of creosote. Additionally, chimney caps can prevent embers from leaving the chimney, though Sunnyside had one in place.

Sunnyside declined to comment on the fire.

~ MR