EAST WINDSOR: Firefighters ‘quickly’ extinguish morning blaze at diner

By Jen Samuel, Managing Editor
   EAST WINDSOR — A brief fire brought police and firefighters Wednesday to the Clairmont Diner on Route 130 at 6:38 a.m.
   A small grease fire, which had ignited as employees were preparing for the opening of the restaurant, was extinguished, the Police Department said in a press release on the incident.
   ”The fire was a brief fire. It was very small,” said Sgt. James Geary of the East Windsor Township Police Department on Wednesday.
   ”There were no structural damages and no injuries by employees or responding personnel,” he said.
   Sgt. Geary said, “The restaurant is open for business again.”
   Responding agencies to the diner included East Windsor Volunteer Fire Company No. 1, East Windsor Volunteer Fire Company No. 2, Hightstown Engine Co. 1 and Cranbury Volunteer Fire Company.
   ”It was actually a little grill fire, but they responded immediately,” Clairmont Diner manager Leon Melis, of East Windsor, said Thursday, adding emergency personnel arrival was “much quicker than we thought” it would be.
   There were no customers present at the time of the fire although the diner was evacuated, according to Mr. Melis.
   Of the firefighters’ response, he emphasized, “They were very, very quick.”
   The Clairmont Diner has been in operation at its130 location for five years, Mr. Melis noted.
   He said the diner offers Greek, Italian and American dishes and also offers a lunch buffet from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for $7.99 per person.