Fire damages Buckhead landmark OK Cafe

ATLANTA — Fire investigators are working to figure out what caused a fire that damaged a popular Buckhead restaurant Sunday.

The Atlanta Fire Department was called out to OK Cafe on the corner of West Paces Ferry Road and Northside Parkway around 8 a.m.

"Once it started getting bad, we started yelling and screaming, the fire alarm started going off,” said General Manager Carlos Alarcon.

Tricia Pridemore and her husband were eating inside the restaurant when the fire started. She says around 50 people were inside when a waiter began running through the restaurant yelling for everyone to leave.

"Anybody who was sitting down they made sure we knew this was not a drill. That we needed to get out now,” said Pridemore.

No flames were visible, but there was a burnt smell inside, according to a Pridemore

“We started getting smoke, smelling smoke and then they said it was on fire and they told us to evacuate and run out, so we got the customers out and we got out. Everybody got out safe, everybody is fine,” said Melissa Rogers, who has been a waitress at the restaurant for 13 years.

AFD says no injuries were reported from the initial fire.

One firefighter was injured on the scene and taken to Atlanta Medical Center. Fire officials say he fell through some rafters while cleanup was underway at the restaurant. He is alert and has no serious injuries.

Alarcon told Channel 2’s Steve Gehlbach he believes it started because of an electrical issue with a hot water heater. He told Gehlbach they were having issues with the heater and called an electrician, but quickly called 911 when smoke started building.

“It’s a blessing it happened early. A blessing it didn't happen at two in the morning because we wouldn't have a building right now,” said Alarcon.

Atlanta firefighters could be seen on the roof above the Take Away section for most of the morning on Sunday. Alarcon says the majority of the damage is in that part of the restaurant.

The restaurant, which is considered an Atlanta landmark, has been in business since 1987.

Employees say they are devastated by the fire and are worried about when they're going to get back to work.

“It’s hard not to cry when something like this happens,” said Rogers. “We’re here for each other so this is hard for all of us.”

Alarcon told Gehlbach the dining room seems to be OK and they plan to rebuild and reopen soon.

“All our staff as we approach the holiday season, that’s really the tough part. You know, what are they going to do now? We’ve always done the right thing for them and we will continue to do the right thing for them. It’s just a sad state of affairs. This place means a lot to a lot of people in this community,” said Alarcon.

WSBTV