Wood Fired Ovens Responsible For Several Local Fires

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Wood fired ovens are a hot item in local dining, but they may be a little too hot.

The ovens are responsible for several local fires and they continue to cause problems despite efforts to regulate them.

Urban foodies love the way the cherry wood flavors the pizzas and the 13-hundred degree temperatures slightly burn the crust.

"You can taste that difference rather than being cooked on a stove top or a regular oven," Anthony Coleman of City Oven says.

But while the ovens may be the hottest things in dining, they may be a little too hot.

Last February a fire started in the ceiling above NOLA's wood burning oven in Market Square and spread to adjoining businesses, causing a million dollars in damages.

Wingharts has suffered not one, but two fires in the past three years which investigators say were caused by their wood burning oven.

The city has issued tough regulations -- requiring an extra hood on the oven, thick insulation, and an elaborate exhaust system, all of which can run upwards of $50 thousand dollars.

The problems haven't ended there.

"The fire alarm went off at 10:55 a.m. this morning,"

Pastors from the First Lutheran Church downtown say a wood burning oven at Hotel Monaco's Commoner restaurant next door has repeatedly filled their sanctuary with smoke, sending the choir and parishioners into coughing spells.

At lunch and dinner -- smoke pours out the Commoner's vents and into the church's intake - where it has set off smoke alarms and required seven emergency responses in the past three weeks.

"So the fire department is getting frustrated that they keep on sending trucks," Assistant Pastor Jennifer McCurry says.

The church has been frustrated with the lack of action by the Commoner and just last week the county health department issued the restaurant an order, demanding they fix the situation.

In response to our questioning, the Commoner issued this statement:

"Hotel Monaco and The Commoner understand this has been an issue for First Lutheran Church, and we are exploring ways to resolve the issues while continuing to serve our guests."

The City Oven restaurant says they've gone the extra mile to avoid fire or nuisance complaints -- not only have they complied with the city's regulations, but they rigorously clean the exhaust ducts and have placed their vents several stories up.

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