PLACENTIA, STOCKTON AND LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA —
What do the Simple Simon’s, Tigeorges’ Chicken, Cabo San Luis, Agave’s, and Super Antojitos restaurants all have in common?

All of these restaurants have caught fire this year and at least two of them did not have operable fire sprinkler systems.

“We are always trying to spread the word about the importance of having an operable fire suppression system, and with the news of so many California restaurant fires this year, it’s time to bring this topic to the forefront once again,” said Massoud Farazandeh, general manager of Nationwide Fire Protection Corp., a Placentia and Stockton fire system company.

Headquartered in Colorado, NFP opened a Placentia fabrication plant in August 2009 to address the growing demand for Stockton fire sprinkler systems and other services it offers throughout the state of California.

Super Antojitos Mexican Food in Santa Ana caught fire Jan. 8. The kitchen fire was the result of a grill accidentally left on by an employee for more than five hours, according to The Orange County Register.

The radiant heat generated from the grill eventually ignited nearby combustible items, according to Capt. Chris Caswell of the Santa Ana Fire Department.

The Press-Enterprise reported that Simple Simon’s in Riverside caught fire Feb.12. Because of the building’s older construction, it was not equipped with fire sprinklers.

Tigeorge’s Chicken in Echo Park caught fire Feb. 18 and although the cause was still under investigation, LAFD Battalion Chief John Vidovich said at the time of the fire that there were signs it could have been due to an electrical issue, according to information posted on The Eastsider .

The all-wood Cabo San Luis in San Luis Obispo was not equipped with fire sprinklers when it erupted into flames March 3 because it was built before sprinklers were mandated in the early 1990s, according to The San Luis Obispo Tribune. The fire also damaged nearby businesses, causing about $1 million in total damages.

Agaves Mexican Restaurant in Antioch caught fire on March 4, but firefighters had it under control within minutes, partly due to the effectiveness of the building’s sprinkler system, Fire Investigator Geoff Spinner told the Mercury News.

Spinner said the fire was suspicious and under investigation. Agaves also caught fire Feb. 2, when a Molotov cocktail was thrown at the building. The improvised device failed to explode, but did spark a fire.

“It’s heart-breaking to hear about restaurants without suppression systems catching fire, because those owners are completely at the mercy of local firefighters to save their business,” Farazandeh said.

Farazandeh has lobbied fire departments across the nation for years to better regulate fire suppression systems in an effort to protect lives and prevent property damage, he said.

There are glimmers of hope, however. Calls to Nationwide Fire Protection Corp. for Stockton fire suppression systems are increasing, as well as inquiries on fire systems from other restaurants throughout California.

“It is our desire to install and maintain quality fire suppression systems in restaurants throughout the state,” Farazandeh said. “If you own a restaurant, the truth is that it likely is just a matter of time before you experience a fire. How costly that fire becomes is largely dictated by the functionality of your fire suppression system.”

Learn More
If you are in need of a company to handle your Stockton fire protection needs or you want more information about Nationwide Fire Protection Corp., call (800) 750-7055, or visit the company’s Web site: http://www.nationwidefireprotection.com/.

About Nationwide Fire Protection Corp.
Chief Executive Officer Massoud Farazandeh founded Nationwide Fire Protection Corp. in 1989 and grew the business into a national leader in fire protection and hood cleaning of restaurants and facilities. In August 2009, he opened a satellite location in Placentia, CA. The company’s comprehensive service offerings enable businesses to do what they do best, which is to focus on their customers and their business. In turn, NFP focuses on what it knows best- keeping businesses in compliance and ensuring the safety of restaurants, staff and patrons.
NFP prides itself on providing exemplary service, offers a quality guarantee and maintains a dependable and highly qualified staff. All crew members are professionally trained to comply with the National Fire Prevention Association Standards and state and local codes.
Nationwide Fire Protection is fully insured and bonded. It is licensed in fire protection contracting in addition to our licensure in the mechanical and electrical fields.

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