Fire inside wall contained at Katch Twenty-Two restaurant in Lecanto; fire caused by stove close to wall

Citrus County Fire Rescue (CCFR)

Lecanto, Florida – About 7:33 p.m. on Thursday, April 17, 2025, Citrus County Fire Rescue (CCFR) was dispatched to the Katch Twenty-Two restaurant located at 2924 W. Gulf to Lake Hwy. in Lecanto, due to a reported fire.

Fire units arrived at the single-story restaurant to find no flames visible from the exterior. Firefighters confirmed that all occupants were safe, outside of the restaurant. A light haze was observed inside the restaurant, and an initial investigation revealed smoke emanating from the wall behind the restaurant’s ice maker. The restaurant staff had already turned off the power to the affected breaker prior to the arrival of firefighters.

Using a thermal imaging camera, fire personnel identified heat within the wall behind the ice machine. As smoke conditions increased, the wall was opened, which revealed smoldering plywood and wooden studs. The fire was extinguished with a water can, and a full fire knockdown was declared at 8:04 p.m.

Further investigation determined the cause of the fire was the conduction of heat from a stove located on the opposite side of the wall. A large pot on the stove’s back burner had directed heat toward the wall, which eventually ignited the wall's interior framing. The structure was cleared of any carbon monoxide or additional hazards before fire units left the restaurant.

Losses from the incident are estimated at approximately $10,000. The business owner was advised to leave the 240-volt breaker off, relocate the stove, and install a 24-inch metal table barrier until a permanent fire-safe solution is completed.

Due to the swift action of Katch 22’s staff and Citrus County Fire Rescue crews, the fire was quickly identified and contained with minimal impact to the business.

IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE, CALL 9-1-1.

Citrus County Fire Rescue Contact Information:
Business Office Location: 1520 N. Meadowcrest Blvd.. Crystal River, Florida 34429;
Non-Emergency Phone: (352) 527-5406.
Website: www.CitrusCountyFire.com
Social Media: x.com/CitrusCoFire and Facebook.com/CitrusCountyFireRescue.