A kitchen fire temporarily closed the eating portion of Off the 99 Cocktails and Eatery last month.
Fresno County’s Department of Public Health was sent to the restaurant bar Aug. 16, following reports of a fire involving “accumulated grease on cooking equipment.” According to an inspection report (and accompanying photos), the first suppression system discharged, leaving chemical residue in the kitchen.
Food exposed to the chemicals was voluntarily discarded, and the kitchen area was ordered closed until the equipment could be cleaned of chemicals and accumulated grease.
The bar was not affected by the fire and allowed to remain open.
During the inspection, the business was found to have an expired health permit.
It has since been renewed. The bar and eatery was cleared to resume operations after four days, according to inspection reports, posted online and reviewed by The Fresno Bee.
The closure was one of nine reported by the county in its Food Facilities Closure Report for August, which posted online this week.
Among the other temporary closures
Reedley’s Super Save Market, which had originally been closed following an inspection in July. It was allowed to reopen in early August after an apparent ownership change.
Dutch Bros Coffee on Ashlan Avenue near Chestnut Avenue, which was closed for less than a day due to a lack of hot water.
Sakura Chaya Tokyo Cuisine at the Sierra Vista Mall. The restaurant closed following an Aug. 6 inspection, due to lack of hot water, cockroach infestation, inadequate food temperatures and lack of cleanliness. It was closed for one day.
Press Box Sports Grill, and adjacent bar, which closed for several weeks due to a rodent infestation.
Chilangos Churros y Hot Dogs. The mobile food vendor closed for four days due to a lack of running water at handwash sink.
The bar section of The Trading Post in Shaver Lake, which closed for three days due to a cockroach infestation.
Huong Lan 9. The Vietnamese kitchen was shut for three days due to a cockroach infestation and significant cleaning deficiencies in kitchen and storage areas, according to the report.
The number of temporary closures is less than the 11 reported by the county in the month of July.
In all, 51 restaurants, mobile food vendors and markets have now been closed, for a day or more, since the start of the year, according to data tracked by The Bee.
How do county health inspections work?
The Fresno County Public Health Department has about two dozen environmental health specialists who monitor some-5,000 restaurants, snack bars, grocery stores, commissaries, delicatessens and food vendors across the county.
These inspectors make unannounced visits several times a year, but are also be called out following notification of a fire (see above) or changes in ownership or in response to complaints or other concerns from the public. This includes when people report what they believe are health or sanitation issues.
The inspectors work through a detailed list of more than 50 items that can lead to a violation.
It can be simple and bureaucratic. Does the business have the proper license and permits (see above) and have the owners paid their fees. Has the business submitted plans for a remodel? Does management and employees have the required food safety or food-handling certificates on hand?
But it can also be things like: the hygiene of individual employee, the temperature control systems (used to keep cold food at or below 41 degrees and hot food above 135 degrees) or sanitation.
Do the facilities do proper sterilization on counters, tables, utensils and cookware? What is the overall cleanliness of a building (are restrooms stocked with supplies, for example)? Are sinks and floor drains working properly?
Inspectors chronicle their findings in reports made available to the public in a searchable database online.
In most instances, problems can be fixed on the spot. That includes things like having enough bleach or sanitizer in the water used to wipe down food-preparation areas; replenishing soap, paper towels and toilet paper in the restrooms, or reminding employees to wash their hands and wear gloves and hairnets.
Serious violations, those that pose an imminent health hazard, will trigger closure and mandatory reinspections. This includes things like rodent or roach infestations (see above) or overall sanitation. Refrigerators that don’t keep food cold enough or steam tables that don’t keep food hot enough to inhibit bacterial growth may also trigger a closure. Also, clogged sinks or drains that allow contaminated water can back up into kitchens.
Also, hot water. This is one of the most common (and quickly fixed) reasons for closure, according to data viewed by The Bee. Most closures are temporary and last no longer than a few days.
The affected businesses are listed each month in the county’s facilities closure report, which is posted online and tracked by The Bee.