There was a fire this afternoon at MJ's Bar and Pool on West Collet Canal. The bar and pool spot also has 13 apartment rooms on the upper flat, all of them occupied. The Fire Department got the call at 3:41 pm and managed to keep the fire form spreading to other buildings but as the Fire Chief told us - they were having a hard time killing it off for a number of reasons.
Henry Baizar, Fire Chief
"What we are doing right now, the fire is in the ceiling of the building so we have to be breaking out spots to get actually to get to the fire. The fire is virtually under control, its not going anywhere from where it is at but the problem right now is that our people have to go in there with breathing operatus because there is a lot of foam in the partition in the ceiling and so that it is a tedious work and it will take some time before we get everything really out. So that is exactly what we are doing at the moment."
Mario Galvez, Owner - MJ's Bar & Pool
"I was at MJ's Grand when they called me and they told me the other
club was on fire. Somebody must have messed with match or something up there as I have rooms up there."
Jules Vasquez,
How many apartments?
Mario Galvez,
"Thirteen."
Jules Vasquez,
Do you know what is the extent of the damage?
Mario Galvez,
"That is hard to say because I don't know what got burnt already or what got water damaged or what."
Jules Vasquez,
Are all the rooms occupied?
Mario Galvez,
"All the rooms are occupied."
Jules Vasquez,
Was the building insured?
Mario Galvez,
"Yes it was insured."
Jules Vasquez,
How much does this set you back in terms of your business, I know this is still a bar?
Mario Galvez,
"No insurance can cover what they set me back here now. This is my bar which helps me with my payments and so. This will set me back way bad, big time."
Fire Victim,
"I lived in the first room but I didn't see what happened. I was resting and I heard some noise out here and when I opened the door, smoke, black smoke was coming from the next room over there."
Jules Vasquez,
So it was coming from one of the rooms but that's some distance from your room?
Fire Victim,
"Yes a lot because the rooms go all the way to the back there and I live in the first one there so I don't know how it started. I don't have any idea."
Jules Vasquez,
So you lost your property or your property damaged?
Fire Victim,
"Well I am not aware right now. I don't have any idea. At the same time at least I have my life and I didn't get hurt or anything. I don't know what to say."
Jules Vasquez,
You know whose room it came from?
Fire Victim,
"Well a lady who had three daughters, one of the daughters goes to school and I don't know. One of those girls just started a fire."
Henry Baizar,
"If it was a nighttime situation, it would have been a problem because there are lots of apartments, lots of different rooms in that place, and so you have break through another area so it is rough for the firemen at this time."
No one was hurt and the fire was brought under control around 5:00 pm. As Galvez noted, the building was insured.
