SAUGUS – The Oasis Restaurant will be closed for at least a couple of weeks after an early morning fire ripped through the ceiling Thursday.
Fire Chief James Blanchard said firefighters responded to an alarm at 2:16 a.m. “for a building we like to call a fireman killer.”
The old Route 1 north building that sits at the foot of Jin has seen a number of different owners over the years. Blanchard said in general each time a building is redecorated it leaves holes in the walls that are often improperly filled, air conditioning and duct work gets moved and things get covered over. The situation makes things dicey for firefighters because, Blanchard said, the fire could get in anywhere and they might not know it.
In this case the fire started below two sprinkler heads setting off both but quickly traveled to the attic that was not sprinkled. Blanchard said firefighters had to cut through four sheets of wood before they could access the interior of the building and reach the fire.
“It was a lot of work,” he said. “It was a lot of cutting and pulling.”
Blanchard said by 5:30 a.m. the fire was out but it left behind enough damage that he anticipates the place will be closed at least a few weeks.
“No one was hurt, no one was in the building,” he added. “It was all closed up. Capt. (Stephen) Johnson was in charge and the guys did a great job. We saved the building.”
While the building might be structurally fit to reopen in a few weeks, its future licensing will be called into question Oct. 1. Selectmen have called a show cause hearing for Oasis as well as Tabu Ultra Lounge based on a variety of incidents, several violent, that have taken place over the last six months.
In the meantime arson investigator Thomas Nolan is working with an investigator from the state’s Fire Marshal’s office to determine the cause of the blaze.
“It’s just one more wrinkle for the club,” Blanchard said regarding the fire and the hearing. “Police have the area roped off and they’re a couple of guys digging through it looking for the cause. It’s a good couple of weeks of repairs to reopen if they decide to go that way.”
