CORONA DEL MAR TODAY

Restaurant Evacuated After Kitchen Fire at Coco’s

A small kitchen fire broke out at Coco’s Bakery Restaurant at 12:01 p.m. today, forcing the evacuation of staff and customers.

Firefighters quickly extinguished the flames with a chemical extinguisher, said Assistant Chief Ralph Restadius. County health officials were called, following protocol to inspect restaurants any time a fire breaks out, he said.

Codi Ashby of St. George, Utah, was waiting for her lunch at the restaurant at 3446 East Coast Highway.

“They just came and said to evacuate,” she said. Employees said they were cleaning a fryer when it caught fire, she said.

By the time she and about two dozen other customers were outside, firefighters had arrived, she said, and smoke could be seen coming from the top of the building.

“It looks like we’re not getting our lunch,” she said, adding that staff encouraged her to visit Rose Bakery Cafe on the next block.

Coco’s employees said the fire was small and no one was injured.