Smoke, But No Fire Damage at George's Grill

Observant neighbors and the Gulfport Fire Department helped a local business avert disaster from a grease fire that broke out in the early morning hours Monday.

Firefighters were called out to George's Grill, 1431 49th St. S., around 1 a.m. Monday after neighbors smelled smoke at the barbecue restaurant.

A grease vat had overflowed, according to Gulfport Fire Chief James V. Marenkovic, sending smoke throughout the restaurant.

"Our guys opened up the restaurant and vented the place," Marenkovic said. "It was basically a lot of smoke."

The restaurant was closed Monday as owner George Gomillion and his employees were cleaning up grease from the floors and changing a lock firefighters had to break through. There was no more serious damage. 

George's Grill will reopen as normal Tuesday morning.

"Everything's fine," Gomillion said. "Luckily the neighbors back there saw the smoke."