Fire-Rescue News- Bird's nest led to fire at Crab Trap, officials inspecting building in advance of reopening

By DEREK HARPER Staff Writer | Posted: Thursday, April 29, 2010 | 2 comments

SOMERS POINT - A bird's nest laid an egg for a popular restaurant in the middle of lunch Thursday, catching fire and forcing about 150 patrons to evacuate.

Fire Chief Frank Denan said the nest, in an electrical junction box at the Crab Trap, 2 Broadway, caught fire at about....Continue Reading

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12:30 p.m. Smoke was quickly smelled throughout the restaurant.

The fire was out before fire crews arrived, restaurant Manager Kieran Murray said Thursday afternoon.

But Denan said the county Health Department had to inspect the grills and other parts of the restaurant as a routine precaution.

By 3 p.m., the restaurant was mostly back in business, with no lingering odor. Murray hurried with other staff to put together a banquet room for a party that had been pushed back from 1 p.m.

Did the birds get out safely?

"Yeah, apparently." Denan said.

Posted in ATLANTIC | NORTHFIELD LINWOOD SOMERS-POINT on Thursday, April 29, 2010 3:00 pm Updated: 9:32 pm.