Fire chief: Blaze at Karl's Cabin may have started in smoking area

A three-alarm fire caused extensive damage to the popular Karl’s Cabin in Salem Township on Wednesday evening.

Salem Township Fire Chief James Rachwal said firefighters responded to calls just before 6:30 p.m. to find the rear of the building engulfed in flames that were reaching toward a storage area containing about 25 propane tanks.

"We do know the area where the fire started was a smokers' area for the employees," Rachwal said, noting that on Thursday morning a steady stream of onlookers were stopping at the scene as fire department investigators also returned. "We have not confirmed that as the cause and origin, but we are looking into it and reviewing multiple videos."

Diners and staff were evacuated when the fire broke out and no injuries were reported. 

Efforts to contain the blaze were complicated by several issues, Rachwal said, including high winds and the propane tanks, which were equipped with a self-venting safety feature that prevents explosions, but caused jet flames that reached about 15-20 feet as the tanks vented.

Rachwal said he wasn’t sure why so many propane cylinders were being stored, but noted the restaurant sometimes uses outdoor heaters and barbeques.

Although damage from the blaze is extensive, Rachwal credits quick work and mutual aid from surrounding departments with containing the fire to the newer banquet area on one side of the building.

"The older part of the building, the classic part of the building – the old timber and stuff – the fire did not get into that area," he said. "We were able to stop it. However, with that big of a fire you have a lot of smoke and damage throughout the whole complex. The business won’t be reopening any time soon."

A storied history

Karl's Cabin is located at 6005 Gotfredson Road. Although it has a Plymouth mailing address, it is within the boundaries of Salem Township. The historic restaurant got its start in 1945 as Rusceak's Rustic Tavern and has operated under several names over the years. According to Karl’s website, the establishment has a storied history that includes rowdy patrons, bar-clearing brawls and an appearance by a young Johnny Cash.

After several changes in ownership, the business shut down in the late 1960s and remained closed until Karl Poulos discovered the abandoned building and opened Karl's Family Restaurant in fall 1982. Now Karl's Cabin Restaurant & Banquets, the business is still owned and operated by the Poulos family. A representative from the family could not immediately be reached for comment.

Lack of fire hydrants

Firefighting efforts also were complicated Wednesday by Salem Township's lack of fire hydrants. "Every drop of water" put on Wednesday's fire had to be brought in trucks, Rachwal said, noting infrastructure for hydrants has been installed at a nearby housing development, but it is not yet connected.

"It could have been much worse," he added. "Our departments did an excellent job of working together and saving the building. Obviously it has heavy, extensive damage but the building is still standing.

"I really want to send our thanks," he added. "We really couldn’t have done half of what we did without the mutual aid support. It really shows how Oakland and Wayne County and Livingston are all coming together to fight these fires. Every industry has short staffing and fire service is no different. We’re able to get enough manpower and enough equipment out here to stop this."

Rachwal said mutual aid came from departments in Dexter, Scio, Ann Arbor, Canton, Plymouth, Plymouth Township, Northville, Northfield and Superior and others.

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Contact reporter Laura Colvin at lcolvin@hometownlife.com or 248-221-8143.