Big day for a Saugus sports bar goes up in flames

SAUGUS – A Saturday morning fire at Sully C?s sports bar in Godfried?s Plaza on Route 1 couldn?t have happened at a more unfortunate time for the restaurant. However, there were no injuries.The front of the establishment burst into flames early Saturday, Saugus fire officials said, on a day when the bar was getting ready for a sports viewing bonanza, including a Red Sox-Yankees game, the Kentucky Derby, the seventh game of the NBA first-round playoff series between the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Clippers, and the Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao fight.ully?s employee was inside preparing to open up the establishment at 8:55 a.m., according to Fire Chief Donald P. McQuaid.The cause is under investigation, but McQuaid said the fire was accidental, and investigators are searching for a cause.?We received a box alarm and numerous 911 calls from people driving by, reporting smoke and heavy fire showing from the roof and front of (the bar),” McQuaid said.McQuaid said the fire immediately grew from a working fire to a second alarm, and multiple engines and ladders were dispatched, including from Melrose, Malden, Everett, Revere, Lynn and Wakefield.?I want to thank the out-of-town apparatus for helping us out for about three hours and knocking down the fire pretty quickly,” McQuaid said. “They were up on the roof, making sure the fire didn?t travel. It was labor-intensive, as the roof had a rubber covering, and they had to peel it back, making sure that the fire was completely out. The fire can travel underneath and burn in different directions. They cut the roof with an ax and saw.”Twelve Saugus firefighters were on the scene, and 28 crew members were there total, according to firefighter Anthony Arone.?I was at Engine 1 on Essex Street, and I could see smoke over the hill from Kowloon, which is about a mile away,” Arone said. “We were there until 1:30 p.m. – about six hours. It was excessive flames and smoke, especially since we received multiple calls first thing on a Saturday morning.”McQuaid said a ballpark figure of building damage is $100,000.?I don?t think they?re going to open up for some time,” McQuaid said, adding the building is unusable at this time. “But the fire was contained – there was no damage reported to Boston Market, or any of the surrounding businesses in the plaza.”There was significant damage to the interior and exterior of the building, Arone said.?We knocked down the initial fire within minutes, but we did extensive overhaul for the next few hours to make sure the fire didn?t come back, especially inside the roof,” Arone said. “There was damage to the foyer, ceiling, roof, water damage inside the building as well as above and behind the signage.”The fire came up the front door and extended up onto the roof, he said.And that got motorists? attention, especially as it is a prominent Route 1 North location.?Cars were stopping to take a look,” McQuaid said. “They took pictures, and Boston Market employees were standing around to watch us put the fire out.”Former selectman Stephen Castinetti arrived as soon as he heard the news to see if there was anything he could do to help.?It is such a difficult situation for the owners to endure after all of the blood, sweat and tears that they have put into making the business a respectable establishment,” Castinetti said. “I want to wish them good luck in getting back on their feet as soon as possible.”