Update, 3 p.m.: Owner Jeff Plank said they are back open.
Update, 2:50 p.m.: Clarksville Fire Rescue Assistant Fire Chief Michael Rios said the 911 call came in at 1:26 p.m. from a passerby who saw smoke pouring out the building.
“There was an out-of-control fire in the barbecue pit, kind of heavy smoke coming out of the chimney and out the doors, so we evacuated the building and extinguished the fire,” Rios told Clarksville Now.
“We cleared out all of the smoke, most of it (the damage) is in the barbecue pit. That has to be checked before they can reopen to make sure it’s clean,” Rios said.
There was no structural damage to the building.
Battalion 2 units from Station 1 and 8 responded.
Previously:
CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Drivers on Wilma Rudolph Boulevard Wednesday afternoon may have seen firefighter response to a fire at Whitt’s Barbecue, but there was only minimal damage to the restaurant.
At about 1:30 p.m., a barbecue pit caught fire, according to employee Brandy Clark.
No one was injured, and there was only minimal damage, she said.
The fire is now out.
The restaurant is closed for now, and may be able to open tonight. Owner Jeff Plank said he’s working with the fire marshal to determine when they will be able to reopen.
Keely Quinlan contributed to this report.