FRUIT COVE, Fla. – An employee at a Loop restaurant on State Road 13 in Fruit Cove was airlifted to Shands Gainesville in serious condition Wednesday morning after a fire broke out in the kitchen, firefighters said.
St. Johns County Fire Rescue was called to the fire on SR 13 North at Fruit Cove Terrace South about 10:45 a.m.
Firefighters said staff members had mostly contained the fire, which was put out by fire rescue crews, but that one of the restaurant's employees had been badly burned.
Paramedics found the patient and began life support while preparing him to be transported.
He was flown via air ambulance to Shands Gainesville.
No other injuries were reported.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by SJCFR and the State Fire Marshals Office. At this point, investigators said the fire does not appear suspicious.
“For the most part our investigators will work with the state, as well as our law enforcement partners, to determine the exact cause and circumstances surrounding the incident,” SJCFR spokesman Capt. Jeremy Robshaw said.
The restaurant will re-open Friday.