How to Protect, Prevent, and Persevere If a Fire Breaks Out in Your Restaurant

“One of my chefs had to hold me up,” says Matt Horn, reliving the tragedy of November 21, 2023. His Oakland restaurant, Horn Barbecue, was closed. Its smoker pits were cold when, inexplicably, fire broke out, ripping through the dining room, office, pit room, and bathroom. The fire department soaked the place with retardant, then red-tagged it as unsafe for occupation. When Horn saw the devastation, he collapsed. “I cook with...