Skyline Chili in Fairfield destroyed by fire: Here’s everything we know now

Sept. 26--FAIRFIELD -- A massive fire destroyed a Skyline Chili in Fairfield early Wednesday morning.

Here's what we know now:

--Fairfield police Officer Jake Hauer drove by the Skyline at 7105 Dixie Highway at around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday and saw flames coming out of the building's roof. Hauer immediately called dispatch.

--It took firefighters more than two hours to extinguish the blaze. The roof over the kitchen area collapsed just as crews were ready to breach the front door, Fairfield Deputy Fire Chief Randy McCreadie said. "They had to pull out and go defensive," McCreadie said.

--No one was inside the restaurant at the time of the fire, and there were no injuries reported to first responders.

--The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Investigators don't yet know where the fire started, but McCreadie said, "somewhere in this back half (of the restaurant) where the kitchen area is. With the roof collapsed, it's really kind of hard to say right now."

--McCreadie said the building appears to be a total loss, but isn't sure of the value of the interior contents. The building is valued at nearly $680,000, according to the Butler County Auditor's Office. Fire and insurance investigators will be out at the restaurant Thursday to go through the building. McCreadie said he isn't sure a cause could be determined at that time.

--The restaurant has been open for more than 20 years at this site, according to its owner Dennis Kurlas. It was previously located across the street, he said. The Kurlas family was recognized in 2017 by Skyline for 50 years with the Cincinnati chili company. They opened a restaurant on Hicks Boulevard -- across the street from their current location -- and moved to the corner of Dixie Highway and Hicks Boulevard 23 years ago.

--Owner Dennis Kurlas told the Journal-News that he will rebuild the restaurant. "It's our livelihood. This is what we do," Kurlas said.

--Employees of the Fairfield Skyline will not be out of work, Kurlas said. They will be temporarily reassigned to other locations. "That's our No. 1 concern today ... take care of our people, our employees," he said. Kurlas' family also owns the Skyline Chili on the West Side of Hamilton.

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