Faulty chiller causes massive fire at Mario’s Juice Bar

The once popular Mario’s Juice Bar on Sheriff Street, Georgetown was destroyed on Tuesday night by a massive fire that tore through the establishment.
Eyewitnesses reported that the fire started at about 22:30h and spread quickly throughout the building, leaving the community in a state of shock and disbelief.
Mario’s Juice Bar, which had been serving fresh and delicious smoothies and juices for over a decade, was a staple for the area.

The security officer attached to the business, who was on the scene at the time of the fire, expressed shock as he described the scene as chaotic. He said the flames were so intense that he could feel the heat from several feet away.
According to him, 15 minutes after the staff had left the building, he heard a loud explosion in the kitchen area of the business place.
Upon investigating, he saw flames, and he immediately ran to the business next door to alert them. Shortly after, a call was made to the Fire Service, and within minutes, the business was fully engulfed in flames.
The Fire Service was alerted to the fire at around 23:13h, and dispatched water tenders and a water bowser from the Central and Campbellville Fire Stations to the location. When they arrived, they found that the structure involved was a one-flat concrete building, and as a result of the fire, the building and its contents were destroyed.

After an investigation, it was determined that the purported cause of the fire was the overheating of a faulty industrial chiller which ignited, and the fire spread through the entire building. (G9)