Fire damages Marble Hill restaurant

Popular restaurant Jay's Barbecue in Marble Hill, Missouri, sustained extensive damage in a Thursday morning fire, according to fire department chief Calvin Troxell.

Troxell said the department responded to a call at 7:57 a.m. for a fully engulfed structure at 105 Conrad Avenue in Marble Hill, but that was not accurate.

The area that housed the smokers was fully engulfed.

"We were able to stop the fire from spreading to the main building," Troxell said, and there is some fire damage in the kitchen. The main building has extensive smoke damage, he said.

The area that housed the smokers is a screened-in area attached to the main building, Troxell said.

"It's a big thing in town, brings in a lot of business," Troxell said. "The owners are good people."

Troxell said the current owners have only owned the business for about four months.

By all appearances, Troxell said, the fire started at or around the smoker, which is a solid wood fired smoker, and spread from there.

The smoker was already in operation this morning, Troxell said, as the workers come in early to start the day's food.

Troxell said the restaurant's entire inventory will be a total loss. He said no timeline for the restaurant's reopening has been established, as of 11 a.m. Thursday.

Mutual aid came from Woodland, Leopold, Zalma and North Bollinger County fire departments, Troxell said.

"We always work together. It's a group effort, all teamwork," Troxell said.

mniederkorn@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3630

Pertinent address:

105 Conrad Ave., Marble Hill, Mo.