Landmark Burger Restaurant Destroyed By Fire
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UNIVERSITY PARK (CBS11) - One of the oldest and most significant buildings in University Park caught fire on Friday, destroying a neighborhood-favorite restaurant.
"Definitely the biggest fire I've had in 18 years, for sure," said Lt. Mark McAdams with University Park Fire Department.
The complicate an already dangerous situation, it was the hottest day of the year in DFW.
"We're used to this in Texas but we're not used to things like…like this," said McAdams.
It was a combination of fire, heat, heavy smoke and the occasional storm bring rain, thunder and lightning.
"It's been rough. It's one of those worst case scenario kind of things," said McAdams.
McAdams and his partner Jacob Herron with University Park Fire were inside Goff's fighting the fire before it became too risky.
"Almost like you were in an oven," said Herron.
With time ticking, the firefighters equated the building to a maze as they tried to find the fire source.
"You cut one floor, there'd be another floor underneath," said Herron.
Workers above Goff's at a local architecture firm smelled smoke at first and realized it was not the usual hamburger grease.
"It was burning," said Andres Arroyo. "I needed to leave. I think I just grabbed my phone and I left."
The architecture office and 30 years of work was burned to a crisp.
"Everything is temporary. And it is," said Wilson Fuqua, the owner of the architecture firm. "Everyone is alive, I have good insurance and hopefully I can build my business back."
Crews eventually had to remove a wall from the building to make it safer for firefighters to secure the area.
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