View of fire damage and fire response at Mo'Bettahs Hawaiin Style Food, Santa Clara, Utah, August 13, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Santa Clara-Ivins Fire and Rescue, St. George News
SANTA CLARA — A gas fire scorched Hawaiian restaurant Mo’Bettahs’ kitchen grills and walls in Santa Clara on Saturday.
The fire was reported at 12:09 p.m., and overhead sprinklers doused the initial flames. However, the fire reignited from remaining gas, and Engine 31 of Santa Clara-Ivins Fire Department extinguished the remaining flames.
Lance Haynie, SCI fire management officer, said no one was injured in the fire. He also said a Santa Clara-Ivins law enforcement officer happened to be eating lunch at Mo’ Bettahs when the fire occurred. The extent of the property damage is burned kitchen equipment and walls within the kitchen.
“It would’ve been a whole lot worse if it weren’t for those sprinklers working,” Lance said.
The restaurant remained closed Saturday, but Swig, next door to Mo’Bettahs, remained open.
The exact cause of the fire is currently unknown.
This report is based on statements by police and fire personnel and may not contain all the findings.
Updated August 13, 7:48 p.m.: Corrected “Santa Clara fire department officer” to “Santa Clara-Ivins law enforcement officer.”
Photo Gallery
View of fire damage and fire response at Mo'Bettahs Hawaiin Style Food, Santa Clara, Utah, August 13, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Santa Clara-Ivins Fire and Rescue, St. George News
View of fire damage and fire response at Mo'Bettahs Hawaiin Style Food, Santa Clara, Utah, August 13, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Santa Clara-Ivins Fire and Rescue, St. George News
View of fire damage and fire response at Mo'Bettahs Hawaiin Style Food, Santa Clara, Utah, August 13, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Santa Clara-Ivins Fire and Rescue, St. George News
View of fire damage and fire response at Mo'Bettahs Hawaiin Style Food, Santa Clara, Utah, August 13, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Santa Clara-Ivins Fire and Rescue, St. George News
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Truman Burgess grew up in Washington state, Virginia and Arizona. He graduated from BYU-Idaho with a bachelor's degree in English. Before starting at St. George News in 2022, Truman was an editorial reporter and lead copy editor for "Scroll," a news service in Idaho. He won Idaho Press Club's 2021 award for best student column of the year. When he's not reporting or writing, Truman spends his time Latin dancing with his fiance and climbing trees with his kids.