Fire destroys Black Bear kitchen

A fire destroyed the cooking area at Black Bear Diner early Tuesday morning and caused significant smoke damage. The total damage is estimated at over $100,000.
A local deputy driving on West Napa Street spotted the fire at 3 a.m. on Tuesday and called it in to dispatch. Firefighters from Sonoma Valley Fire Department were at the scene almost immediately and were able to contain the blaze within 30 minutes of arriving.
The fire started in the cooking area, spreading up into the attic space and roof. The building suffered smoke damage throughout and extensive damage to the cooking appliances.
A total of 32 fire and rescue personnel responded to the blaze – seven engines, one ladder truck, and two ambulances. Sonoma Valley Fire Department arrived first with back-up from Schell-Vista and Kenwood.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Nobody was injured. The diner’s owner couldn’t say yet how long it will take to fix the damage.