fire

Delhi Club Back Open for Business

By ARLnow.com

Clarendon’s Delhi Club restaurant (1135 N. Highland Street) is back open after a kitchen fire forced it to close in June.

Delhi Club first opened its doors Friday night, for dinner, according to manager Mir Hussain. The restaurant has been attracting sizable crowds ever since the reopening, he added.

“Business is good,” a relieved but busy Hussain said during today’s lunch service. “We opened on Friday and Friday was very busy.”

Delhi Club originally had hoped to open a week after the fire, but only recently received the last of the county permits required to reopen.

Delhi Club Hopes to Reopen Next Week

By ARLnow.com

It’s been more than a month since a kitchen fire shut down Clarendon’s Delhi Club restaurant (1135 N. Highland Street). Now, after numerous delays, the restaurant is hoping to reopen next week.

Dehli Club manager Mir Hussain, who originally hoped to reopen within a week of the fire, says he’s working to obtain one last county permit before the restaurant can finally open its doors again. In the meantime, ladders are up and some work still continues on the restaurant’s interior and exterior

Hussain says he anticipates getting the county permit soon, and opening the restaurant at some point next week.

Ireland’s Four Courts Makes a Comeback

By Katie Pyzyk

(Updated at 2:55 p.m.) More than three months ago, fire ravaged Ireland’s Four Courts (2051 Wilson Blvd) in Courthouse. But like a phoenix, the pub is about to emerge from the ashes.

The February fire gutted the kitchen, back halls and roof, forcing the pub to resort to a limited menu of mostly cold foods. Only being able to open a portion of the restaurant meant they were bringing in about 40 percent of the usual business.

The damage was more significant than anticipated, requiring many repairs in order to reopen. General Manager Dave Cahill (who hails from Limerick, Ireland) says that prompted the decision to redevelop and modernize the entire pub. Some of the changes include new hardwood and tile floors, new wood paneling and paint on the walls, a new main bar, a redone party area and the addition of a deck in the back. There are also new beers on tap, new glassware to be used with each specialty beer and an expanded scotch and whiskey list.

Four Courts also hired a new chef — Joel Lucas — who had previously worked at McCormick & Schmick’s and Chef Geoff’s. He’s been developing an updated menu. Lucas and Cahill said they will still serve the standard Irish dishes that Americans are familiar with, like corned beef and cabbage. However the revamped menu will include new items, several of them reflecting Ireland’s seafood offerings, such as scallops or salmon.

Lucas pointed out that the pub features “from scratch cooking” and fresh produce grown locally in Virginia. Customers will also see gourmet cheeses made at Cahill’s family farm in Ireland topping some dishes.

Despite all the changes, Cahill stresses that Four Courts will still have the same feel of a traditional Irish pub, but with a fresher look. He and Lucas have spent a lot of time and money studying pubs in Ireland, trying to mimic specific points of authenticity in both ambiance and fare.

“We want people to feel like they’re actually in a pub in Ireland when they come here,” Cahill said.

Tomorrow, Ireland’s Four Courts will start serving its expanded menu. A full grand re-opening is scheduled for August 31. The Four Courts website has the pub’s new hours and menu. More photos, after the jump.

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UPDATED: Firefighters Battle Blaze in Ft. Myer Heights

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 2:40 p.m.) Firefighters battled an apartment fire on the 1600 block of N. Queen Street in Ft. Myer Heights this afternoon.

A resident reported fire on the second floor of a garden-style apartment building just after 1:15 p.m. Firefighters arrived and found flames and smoke. A second alarm was called as a precaution, due to the hot weather. Firefighters on the scene were given plenty water; some had their blood pressure checked.

Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the blaze, according to ACFD spokesman Lt. Gregg Karl. No injuries were reported. The Red Cross has arrived on scene to assist displaced residents.

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Fire at Delhi Club, Hard Times Cafe

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 3:10 p.m.) A fire broke out this morning in the Clarendon building that houses Hard Times Cafe and Delhi Club.

Smoke could be seen rising from the roof and billowing out of the entrance to Hard Times as firefighters attacked the blaze. Workers on their lunch break gathered to watch as fire trucks surrounded the building.

The fire broke out in the kitchen of Delhli Club and spread into the duct work, according to fire department spokesperson Lt. Ed Hughes. Only smoke — not fire — spread to Hard Times, he said. No injuries were reported.

The original report of fire was called in by an assistant fire marshal who happened to be driving in the area, Hughes noted.

Roads were closed in the area of Clarendon Metro as emergency responders and county health department inspectors remained on the scene. Dehli Club manager Mir Hussain said the damage is “not too bad.” He hopes to clean up the mess and get health department approval to reopen in a week or so.

Hard Times Cafe owner Doug Welsh said there was some smoke damage inside the restaurant, but no structural damage. He expects the restaurant to reopen at 5:00 tonight.

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BREAKING NEWS — Firefighters Battle Ballston Garage Blaze

By ARLnow.com

(Update at 2:35 p.m.) An elderly woman is dead following a car fire in the parking garage below the Ballston Hilton (950 N. Stafford Street).

Homicide detectives were called to investigate the woman’s death, but according to police spokeswoman Det. Crystal Nosal the death is now being investigated as a probable accident.

Police believe the woman, 74-year-old Adele Lapinell of Annandale, suffered some sort of medical emergency that caused her to crash her vehicle on the G-1 level of the garage. The crash caused the fire, Nosal said — likely the result of a gas line that was damaged by the collision. The first and second floors of the hotel were evacuated during the fire as a precaution.

Lapinell’s body was found as firefighters extinguished the blaze. Nosal said she was identified as a “registered parker” in the garage. She was the only person in the vehicle at the time of the collision.

Police shut down Stafford Street between Fairfax Drive and 9th Street N. while emergency responders were on the scene. The road has since reopened. Washington Gas crews are on the scene to help repair the gas line.

BREAKING NEWS — One Killed in Ft. Myer Heights Fire

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 1:20 p.m.) A man was killed in a two-alarm fire at the Prospect House condominiums (1200 N. Nash Street) in Ft. Myer Heights last night, authorities have confirmed.

Fire broke out in a third floor condo around 11:20 p.m. Firefighters arriving at the scene reported heavy smoke and flames. One victim was found in the apartment and transported to George Washington University Hospital. He was later pronounced dead.

Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze relatively quickly, said ACFD spokesman Lt. Gregg Karl. There was significant damage to one apartment and some smoke damage to nearby units.

The victim has been identified as 77-year-old Frederick Cole, the sole occupant of the apartment that caught fire.

“The fire investigation is ongoing, but it does not appear to be suspicious at this time,” authorities said in a statement.

Small Fire Reported on Metro Tracks

By ARLnow.com

Update at 10:25 a.m. — “A couple of trains were delayed but continued to move through the area,” says Metro spokesman Ron Holzer.

Update at 9:30 a.m. — The fire is reported to be out. Expect some traffic issues on westbound I-66 due to parked fire equipment. Initial reports suggest that trains may have been halted in the area. Metro is said to be checking whether the fire may have damaged the third rail.

Update at 9:25 a.m. — The fire is said to be on a railroad tie. No word yet on whether this will affect trains along the Orange Line.

A small fire has been reported on or near the Metro tracks along I-66, between Glebe Road and East Falls Church.

Arlington firefighters are responding to the area.

BREAKING NEWS — House Fire Near Clarendon

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 8:20 p.m.) Arlington firefighters battled a house fire near Clarendon tonight.

Heavy fire and heavy smoke was first reported in a three-story house near the intersection of N. Ivy Street and 10th Street around 6:45 p.m. A second alarm was called and about 50 firefighters helped to extinguish the blaze.

The house, which contained three individual apartments, suffered damage throughout the structure. Ten residents were displaced by the fire and are receiving assistance from the Red Cross. Although each apartment was occupied at the time, all residents managed to escape safely, according to Arlington County Fire Department spokesperson Lt. Gregg Karl. No injuries were reported.

The Arlington Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the blaze, Karl said.

Photos courtesy Ian Luria (top) and Garrett Peck (bottom). Hat tip to John Antonelli.

Fire-Scarred Four Courts Reopens With Limited Menu

By ARLnow.com

Ireland’s Four Courts (2051 Wilson Blvd) in Courthouse reopened Friday evening, two days after a grease fire damaged its kitchen.

The pub will be using its downstairs kitchen to offer a limited menu while the upstairs kitchen is repaired. The damaged kitchen is expected to remain closed for “at least a month.” During that time, the pub will open on weekdays from 2:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. and on weekends from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.

“We are extremely thankful and grateful for the quick response of Arlington fire department,” Four Courts said in a statement. “A investigation is continuing into the fire.”

Photo courtesy @MixMasterZano

Kitchen Fire at Ireland’s Four Courts

By ARLnow.com

Arlington firefighters are on the scene of a “significant” grease fire at Ireland’s Four Courts (2051 Wilson Boulevard) in Courthouse.

The fire started in the kitchen and produced a lot of smoke, but was quickly extinguished once firefighters made their way into the building. Fire damage should be confined to the kitchen, but there may be some smoke damage and a few broken windows elsewhere in the pub.

Police shut down Wilson Boulevard at N. Rhodes Street during the incident to allow fire equipment to position itself around the building.

Photo courtesy @MixMasterZano

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