Sprinklers Saved the Common Man from Being Destroyed

Windham Fire Chief Tom McPherson has reported that the fire supression system in the Common Man restaurant undoubtedly saved the building from being near destroyed.

The fire on Tuesday in the 2 and a half story wood framed building stemmed from an electrical problem in the restaurant's dining room, according to the restaurant.

According to Chief Operating Officer Warren Dodge, Kitchen Manager Kenny Mulligan was in the restaurant at the time of the incident, which fire officials responded to at 10:09 a.m.

Mulligan smelled smoke while doing prep work for the restaurant, and as the smoke intensified, he exited the building and called the Windham Fire Department at 10:15 a.m., minutes after they received the alert from the building's fire alarm system.

Officials determined that a utility strip malfunctioned and ignited a small piece of furniture.

The building's fire supression system was activated, with the sprinklers extinguishing the fire in minutes.

Damage to a cabinet and the wall behind leading up to the second floor ceiling were damaged, according to Windham Fire.

The dinner-only facility had not guests inside at the time of the incident.

Common Man family management sent Mulligan to the hospital as a precaution, but he was back at the restaurant by early afternoon to assist in restaurant efforts.

The building was opened at 4:30 p.m. after water remnants were cleaned up and the fire supression system was re-charged.