After the first round of investigations, the cause of the Crawdaddy’s fire has been determined as electrical in nature.
Restaurant Owner Drew Blalock said TBI investigators and fire officials told him a ceiling fan on the outside balcony is the probable cause.
“It started from the balcony from what the investigators have determined,” Blalock said. “We still have another investigator to finish his investigation. So, the balcony is totaled. It spread to the office, which is connected to the balcony, that the office is totally gutted and totaled.”
Blalock said he met with his staff today to give clarity about what will happen moving forward. Blalock said the response from the community has made him proud to be a resident of Cookeville.
“It is unbelievable,” Blalock said. “It’s unbelievable the support of this community, and I am not going to start to try name each business and individual that has come up with help and done things so far cause I would leave somebody out. It makes me proud to be a Cookevillian, and what an amazing community we live in.”
Blalock said it is not just Cookeville answering the call. Other businesses across the Upper Cumberland have extended offerings.
“It is not just the Westside that has come to help,” Blalock said. “We have had other businesses that are downtown also and maybe not downtown. We have had businesses in Livingston offer to help. I know, especially being in the service industry, the people that are offering help I’m sure they can imagine what it would be like for them or their staff this close to Christmas.”
The fire broke out early Wednesday morning after being contained some three hours later. The building suffered extensive smoke, water and fire damage.
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