Longtime patron spots fire at eatery, helps fight it

When a fire broke out at a Bankers Hill restaurant Wednesday morning, a longtime customer helped direct other diners out and used a fire extinguisher and garden hose on the flames before San Diego firefighters arrived to put out the blaze.

The fire was reported shortly after 11:05 a.m. at the Hob Nob Hill restaurant on First Avenue and Juniper Street.

By the time firefighters arrived, all the patrons had exited the eatery, and crews found a fire in the back of the building, San Diego Fire-Rescue Battalion Chief Michael Howell told OnScene TV. Firefighters quickly took care of the “small exterior fire” they found, he said.

According to an online incident log, four engines and more than 30 firefighters responded to the blaze.

There was some smoke damage to the interior of the restaurant, and firefighters shut down electricity and gas to the building. A health department inspector will need to check out the business before it will be allowed to reopen, Howell said.

Customer Dutch House, who said he has been coming to the restaurant once a week since the late 1980s, said he was leaving after having breakfast when he noticed the fire at the rear of the building. “We looked back and there was a ton of black smoke,” House told OnScene TV.

House said he helped evacuate diners before grabbing a fire extinguisher and trying to put out the flames. He also used a garden hose. Then fire crews arrived and quickly took care of it, he said.

The owner of the restaurant, Tania Warchol, gave House a hug and thanked him for his efforts, a moment captured by OnScene. A sign boasts the restaurant has been operating since 1944.

No injuries were reported.