Fire Damages Kitchen of Kaufman House in Zelienople

Fire extensively damaged the kitchen of well-known restaurant on Wednesday.

Rob Reeb said the fire started in the kitchen about 3:30 p.m. and spread from an oven hood into the ceiling of the century-old building.

The kitchen is located in a single-story addition to the three-story building, Reeb said. Although firefighters had the flames knocked out within 15 minutes, Reeb said they were continuing to cut through the roof of the restaurant as of 5 p.m. to make sure the fire had not moved between the walls.  

Kaufman House owner Doug Pilarski said his staff tried to put out the flames before calling 911. He was grateful no one was injured.

“That’s all I ever cared about,” he said. “Thank God I have a great staff.”

Reeb estimated the cost of damage to the kitchen, which is unusable, at between $180,000 to $200,000.

This isn’t the first time the eatery has caught fire. Pilarski said the original building burned to the ground in the 1890s. It was rebuilt in 1903. Pilarski said his father, Ken Pilarski, purchased the building in 1973, and it has been in the family ever since.  

Fire departments responding to the flames included Zelienople, Harmony, Cranberry, Evans City and Big Knob. The fire also shut down South Main Street and part of New Castle Street.

Reeb said the streets reopened around 7:30 p.m.