Fire damages Deep Cove Chalet restaurant; owner plans to rebuild

The Deep Cove Chalet restaurant will be closed for the next few months due to significant damage caused by a Saturday night fire.

The fire likely started around an exhaust pipe for one of the restaurant’s ovens.

“It set the roof on fire,” said chef and owner Pierre Koffel, who was at the restaurant early Sunday and again on Monday assessing the damage. The roof has a large hole made by firefighters in their efforts to get access to the flames.

Koffel and a dishwasher were closing up the restaurant when the dishwasher went outside, and spotted flames coming out of the roof, Koffel said Monday.

The fire was confined primarily to the space between the ceiling joists and the rafters of the building, at 11190 Chalet Rd. in North Saanich.

Koffel estimates the fire started between 10:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. Saturday.

“Nobody got hurt. That’s the main thing,” he said.

The fire was put out in about two hours by the North Saanich Fire Department with assistance by crews from Central Saanich and Sidney fire departments.

There were no diners in the restaurant at the time and a guest suite in the building was not occupied as well.

“The firemen worked very hard on the blaze,” said Koffel.

While there appeared to be very little fire damage to the interior, upon inspection in the light of day, extensive smoke and water damage was found.

The fire was confined to the building that housed the restaurant and did not threaten Koffel’s collection of classic Citroen cars, parked outside.

Municipal fire officials were on site Monday, as was a fire official from the insurance company.

The property must first be evaluated and then a cleaning crew will come in. As soon as that cleanup is finished, construction will begin, Koffel said.

The restaurant will be rebuilt as it was. There are no plans to make it larger, he said.

It is unclear how long construction will take, Koffel said, estimating the restaurant may reopen in three to four months.

Customers are being notified that the restaurant will not be available for Christmas bookings. It was already fully booked.

An outpouring of support has been comforting, Koffel said. People have phoned and sent messages and offered to help.

CHEK NEWS Debris from firefighting efforts litters a table at the Deep Cove Chalet restaurant after Saturday night’s fire. The owner says it’s likely to be months before the restaurant can reopen.

CHEK NEWS A hole was left in the restaurant’s roof as firefighters attempted to get at flames in the building’s rafters.