Salt House reopens in time for lunch after kitchen fire

Less than 24 hours after a fire halted operations at a popular Esplanade restaurant, Salt House restaurant will be back in business in time for lunch.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Service crews have responded to a fire at Salt House restaurant on the Cairns Esplanade. Photo: Supplied.

Salt House bar and restaurant is back in business less than 24 hours after emergency services were called to extinguish a fire in the kitchen.

Emergency services quickly extinguished a blaze at Salt House restaurant on the Cairns Esplanade on Wednesday.

Salt House managing director Fintan Rafferty confirmed the kitchen would reopen from 12pm on Thursday, despite damage to the restaurant dining area.

“We have received amazing support from all out trusted contractors who were onsite late into last night and at first light today so we will knock over all the repairs quickly,” Mr Rafferty said.
“We are open for business from 12pm (Thursday).”

Mr Rafferty also confirmed a mobile kitchen would be stationed on the grass area to assist.

On Wednesday, a Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokeswoman confirmed crews responded to reports of a fire in the kitchen.

The fire has now been extinguished. Picture: Peter Carruthers.

“It looks like the fire started in the rangehood (kitchen equipment),” she said.

“Crews are still on the ground making sure everything is safe.”

The fire was extinguished about 12.15pm.

Sergeant Lyall McKelvie from the scene of the fire said it was fortunate that patrolling officers noticed smoke and were able to fight the blaze with extinguishers before QFES crews arrived.

Two QFES trucks attended the blaze. Photo: Peter Carruthers.

“It started in the kitchen area and has gone up into the hob and the flu area and there was another second origin point up in there,” he said.

Salt House managing director Fintan Rafferty talks with emergency service crews outside the restaurant in the Cairns CBD. Photo: Peter Carruthers.

“(Fireys) have got it all contained and are now doing the secondary check and I think the building was pretty empty.

“We were the first response at least that contained it for a little bit and definitely did reduce that first initial fire.”

Two QFES crews remain at the scene to dampen down hotspots.

Originally published as Salt House reopens in time for lunch after kitchen fire