DALLAS — Fire officials are trying to determine the cause of two overnight fires, including one at the landmark Sonny Bryan's on Inwood Road.
Police say a man who may have witnessed the restaurant fire was taken to the hospital for mental evaluation.Fire investigators intend to question the hospitalized man to ascertain whether he has any knowledge of what caused the fire at the original Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse, 2202 Inwood Road.A second fire was reported miles away at the Falls of High Point apartment, 9030 Markville Drive in northeast Dallas, according to Jason Evans, Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesman.Firefighters saw fire coming from the roof of the three-story structure upon arrival, a fire department news release stated. There were no other reported injuries but an unknown number of residents were displaced, the release said.Apartment residents had evacuated by the time firefighters arrived. As the intensity of the flames grew, firefighters pulled out and tried to contain the damage. Members of the American Red Cross are offering assistance to displaced residents.Investigators say they believe the fire originated in a unit on the third floor that sustained much of the damage and got into the attic space where it spread and damaged five of the complex's 24 units.The fire at Sonny Bryan's was reported about 11 p.m. Tuesday. The restaurant has been closed until further notice, but is expected to reopen in about three days, according to manager Dave Rummel. No one was at the restaurant at the time, and no injuries are associated with the blaze, Rummel said.The fire department called and alerted Rummel to the fire.The storage shed in the back caught fire and damaged the walk-in cooler, Rummel said. The restaurant has been a fixture of Dallas culture since 1958 when it opened, Rummel said. Investigators are still trying to determine the cause.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
