Cape Coral Fire Department firefighters battle a blaze at the Boathouse Tiki Bar & Grill Thursday night. There were no injuries but the building incurred significant damage in the fire that started shortly after the riverfront eatery closed. Officials said the cause of the fire is undetermined but they have not ruled out an electrical cause. Photo courtesy of the CCFD

A fire that broke out at the Boathouse Tiki Bar & Grill was battled from both land and water Thursday night.

Cape Coral Fire Department spokesperson Andrea Schuch said just after closing, employees of the restaurant at the Yacht Club Community Park on Driftwood Parkway discovered the fire and called it in at 9:40 p.m.

“All the employees are safe,” she said. “It’s a very sad loss for the community. I am thankful no one was injured during the fire.”

Schuch said a big fuel load “fed” the fire due to the type of structure – a tiki hut – plus it was very windy. Staff had just restocked all the alcohol to the bars, which was also an additional fuel source, she said.

“That caused the fire to jump around from place to place even more so than it would have,” Schuch said.

Because the restaurant faced the water, it could not be attacked from all sides.

The department’s fire boat, which is housed at Tarpon Point Marina, fought the fire from the riverside as crews fought land-side

“They are able to pump water from the river through the pump on the boat and use it for fire suppression,” Schuch said.

The fire also was battled using an aerial truck.

To make sure they had enough water to put out the fire, the department used turbo drafting where they took water out of the river to douse the fire.

Firefighters continued to spray water on the Boathouse early Friday morning to make sure all the hot spots were out.

Most of the crews were able to go back to the station during the early hours of the morning, Schuch said.

The Cape Coral Fire inspectors and the State Fire Marshall’s Office completed the investigation.

Schuch said the fire was ruled undetermined, but they cannot rule out electrical. She said they gathered information from witness statements, but were unable to access the area where it was believed the fire started because the structure is not stable.

The building has been turned over to the owner, the Kerns Restaurant Group.

Schuch said it is up to them to decide the next steps – working with the insurance company, rebuilding and determining if anything is salvageable.

Reached by phone, the Kerns Restaurant Group said a statement would be forthcoming.