Fire at August 8 restaurant causes more than $1M in damage

An early-morning fire at the sushi restaurant August 8 on Upper James on Friday has left damage totalling more than $1 million, according to Hamilton Fire Department.

Just after midnight, the fire department responded to a call about a fire at the restaurant.

Fire Chief David Cunliffe provided details about the fire and an estimate of the damage in a news release later on Friday. There were no reported injuries.

The restaurant on Upper James Street is one of three locations in Hamilton, with one on Wilson Street downtown and another on Paramount Drive in Stoney Creek. Its first location opened in downtown Hamilton in 2008, according to its website.

In the release, Cunliffe said the front third of the restaurant's roof collapsed during the fire.

"This was a well-involved fire that was advancing through the attic and roof area of the building."

He added the building sustained "significant damage."

According to Cunliffe, first arriving crews reported heavy smoke and flames visible from the roof area.

He said the fire was immediately upgraded to a two-alarm, bringing additional resources to the scene from across the city. "Two aerial devices were utilized, providing large volume water streams on the fire," Cunliffe said.

"Additional staffed hose lines were deployed at ground level to augment the suppression operations."

Fire crews were able to put out the fire in 45 minutes.

Cunliffe said two August 8 staff members were in the building when the fire started, but were able to get out before fire crews arrived.

The cause of the blaze is still unknown.