Restaurant Fire Brings M Street to a Standstill

A thick column of black smoke billowing from behind the Tackle Box and Hook restaurants was the only visible indication to M Street bystanders of the massive fire that broke out in the back alley today shortly after noon.

Diners enjoying lunch at Tackle Box said they did not hear an alarm sound but saw smoke coming from the kitchen, prompting everyone in the restaurant to walk out immediately. Kitchen staff also promptly evacuated when flames erupted from the back of the kitchen. The D.C. Fire Department received the emergency call reporting the fire at 12:30, and shortly after over 100 firefighters from 30 D.C. emergency response units arrived on the scene, said Sergeant Sid Polish.

No one was injured in the fire, which was mostly restricted to the outside alley, but Hook suffered significant fire damage in the rear of the restaurant and its immediate neighbors, particularly Tackle Box, maintained collateral damage from smoke and water, said Pete Piringer, a Public Information Officer for the D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department.

“The damages [to Hook restaurant] are somewhat significant,” said Piringer. “The good thing is there were no injuries.”

M Street was closed from the Key Bridge to Wisconsin Ave while the fire department secured the buildings, and the block containing Hook and its neighboring businesses was restricted to pedestrians.

This afternoon firefighters will work on ensuring all the hotspots have been fully extinguished and collaborate with investigators to determine the cause of the fire.

Hook will most likely be closed pending repairs and ultimately a health inspection before reopening.

[Click Here](https://georgetowner.com/videos/fire-hook-restaurant/) to view live footage of the event.