Fire at Texas Cattle Company causes extensive damage

Paul Nutcher, The Ledger
·2 min read
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Cleanup crews work inside the Texas Cattle Company restaurant in Lakeland, FL, Tuesday February 7, 2023. Lakeland Fire Department responded to a report of a fire at the restaurant about 1 a.m. and could see heavy flames and smoke from the south side of the building at 735 E. Main St.
Cleanup crews work inside the Texas Cattle Company restaurant in Lakeland, FL, Tuesday February 7, 2023. Lakeland Fire Department responded to a report of a fire at the restaurant about 1 a.m. and could see heavy flames and smoke from the south side of the building at 735 E. Main St.

An early morning fire on Tuesday at the Texas Cattle Company has cast a cloud of uncertainty on when the more than 50-year-old steakhouse will reopen.

“That is still unfolding” said Stephen Gary, the restaurant's operating partner.

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Gary, 38, of Winter Haven, said the restaurant office, the "fire pit" where all the steaks are cooked and the roof above those areas were destroyed leaving the business with damage to about 25% of the building.

"The rest of the restaurant is still in good shape," he said. "The dining room wasn't really touched."

The rest of the damage was water, soot and ash and there were no reported injuries.

The cause of the blaze appears to be smoldering wood used to smoke meat from a fire box beneath a grill, said Lakeland Fire Marshal Cheryl Edwards.

"Our fire investigators are going to call the fire unintentional," Edwards said. "They believe it was accidental."

Each night employees empty out the wood from the fire box, place it into a metal can and move it outside on a dolly, Edwards said. However, it appears some of the smoldering wood fell on the ground near the pine wood exterior where the fire started.

According to the Lakeland Fire Department, crews responded to a report of a fire at Texas Cattle Company early Tuesday at about 1 a.m. and could see heavy flames and smoke from the south side of the building at 735 E. Main St. on the east shore of Lake Mirror.

The fire at the single-story structure presented "several challenges, including propane tank storage and a compromised gas line due to high temperatures and fire," LFD said. The fire was brought under control around 3:30 a.m.

Cleanup crews work inside the Texas Cattle Company restaurant in Lakeland, FL, Tuesday February 7, 2023. Lakeland Fire Department responded to a report of a fire at the restaurant about 1 a.m. and could see heavy flames and smoke from the south side of the building at 735 E. Main St.
Cleanup crews work inside the Texas Cattle Company restaurant in Lakeland, FL, Tuesday February 7, 2023. Lakeland Fire Department responded to a report of a fire at the restaurant about 1 a.m. and could see heavy flames and smoke from the south side of the building at 735 E. Main St.

The Lakeland Texas Steak Company location has been an eatery since 1973, Gray said. It is owned by Talk of The Town Restaurants, which was started by Charles Woodsby, founder of the Red Lobster restaurants.

A message on the restaurant's website stated, "We Are Sad To Announce That Texas Cattle Company In Lakeland Will Be Temporarily Closed Due To A Fire In The Building. Please continue to visit our website for updates. We look forward to reopening and serving you again soon!"

Paul Nutcher can be reached at pnutcher@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Fire at Texas Cattle Company causes extensive damage