3 Firefighters Injured In Rancho Mirage Restaurant Fire

It took Riverside County firefighters four hours to gain control of a fire that erupted at a Rancho Mirage restaurant Tuesday morning.

In the updated incident report, fire department spokeswoman Jody Hagemann reported smoke and flames were seen by callers shooting into the sky from Gigi’s Island Restaurant, 69934 Highway 111, near Atrium Way.

Eight fire engines and seven ambulances were called to fight the fire, which was first reported at 3:44 a.m.. Crews from Riverside County reported a major fire in the rear of the building and requested help from the city of Palm Springs.

Capt. Mike Smith from Cal Fire told News Channel 3 firefighters were having a hard time getting to the flames in the 3,000 square foot building’s attic because of its unique architectural structure and roof line.

Hagemann reported three firefighters suffered injuries during the fire fight and had to be taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.

The restaurant is an architectural landmark; the building was once home to the Bananaz and Chart House restaurants.

In fact, the designer, Kendrick Bangs Kellogg, was friends with Chart House founder Frederick Liebhart from childhood. In 1977, he asked Kellogg to design the building for his desert location.

His design included burying part of the restaurant underground to keep the building cool in the hot desert summers.

As if the loss of a business weren’t enough for the residents of Rancho Mirage, the firefighting activity shut down Highway 111 in both directions between Country Club Drive and Frank Sinatra Drive.

Northbound lanes were reopened by 7:45 a.m. Southbound lanes were re-opened an hour later.

Fire investigators are combing through remains of the building, trying to find a cause of the fire.