A two -signal fire at Matunuck Oyster Bar at the South Kingstown of May 20th. In the morning, it caused great damage to the iconic restaurant, and firefighters say the restaurant will probably be a complete loss.
“The building suffered a lot of damage,” said Steve Pinch, CEO of Union Fire on Tuesday morning. “I think they will probably have to remove the building and start again.”
The building was empty and did not report injuries.
The owner of Matunuck Oyster Bar, Perry Raso, is hugged by his staff after the restaurant was destroyed by a fire in 2025. May 20
Owner Perry Raso is “painful”
Perry, owner of Matunuck Oyster Bar, published a report through a representative, first thanks to firefighters who responded to an early morning flame. “Although the damage of our building is devastating to me, our guardians and employees, we are very grateful that no one was injured,” he said.
Raso said he was working closely with the Department of Labor and Training, Governor’s Office and other public officials to help Matunuck Oyster Bar more than 300 full -time and seasonal workers. He also thanked all neighbors, guardians, partners, colleagues and friends from Rhodes from the island and beyond that contacted the offers to help. “We are humiliated by the goodness of this community and we try to explore the most effective and spectacular opportunities to ensure that our employees get help at this difficult time,” Raso said.
“We are humble and grateful for what Matunuck Oyster Bar reflects so many people,” he said.
Matunuck Oyster Bar Fire caused by strong winds
Firefighters found a “large amount of fire” derived from the 2½ -storey Matunuca Oyster strip back and second floor when they responded at 4 o’clock in the morning, Pinch said. He said the firefighters called about 3:44 and were there in 8 minutes.
Initially, the fire led to a strong wind, “when firefighters aggressively attacked the flame,” the union firefighter district said in a press release. The fire reached the emptiness of the building, making the fire extinguishing more difficult, the fire service said.
The second alarm clock was caused to bring additional resources to the scene, the fire service said.
The wind died in about half an hour, and about 35 firefighters controlled the fire at the scene in about 1.5 hours in about 1.5 hours, Pinch said.
Money and other firefighters were still around 8 o’clock in the fire, cleaning and spending hot places. Here was also the restaurant owner Perry Raso.
What caused the Matunuca Oyster Bar Fire?
The State Firefighter’s Marshal Service is investigating the cause of a standard procedure, Pinch said. The Union Fire and Fire and Southern Kingstown Police Department is in the investigation of the public service.
According to Pinch, the restaurant was opened on Monday night.
Matunuck Oyster Bar recently called one of the best restaurants in the country
Matunuck Oyster Bar is one of the most popular Rhode Island restaurants and, according to US Today, a 2024 -year -old restaurant list, one of the 44 places to eat in America.
How did Matunuc Oyster Bar begin?
Raso started the restaurant as an extension of his oyster growing business in 2009.
2002 He founded the Matunuc Oyster Farm 7 -acre commercial aquaculture lease in Potter pond in Eastern Mutunuck, a village in the South Kingstown.
Since 2009 He needed a dock, Raso bought a small seasonal restaurant inlet and he grew out of there.
Pinch lined the Matunuck Oyster Bar and called it a “wonderful” restaurant.
“We feel bad for all employees and everyone affected by this fire,” Pinch said. “It hurts the heart.”
“Matunuck’s oyster bar is on the town,” Pinch later added a press release. “It employs a lot of people. Most community people know the man who works there. It has a big impact on the city’s economy. It’s hard to imagine that summer is going on if the oyster strip is opened.”
“We hope they will rebuild and even better when they will open again,” Pinch said.
The fire was probably destroyed by the Matunuca Oyster strip in the southern Kingstown of 2025. May 20
Pick praised the work of the department firefighters.
“Our firefighters have done a huge job under extreme heat and wind conditions under a heavy building,” he said. “It was a pretty stubborn fire.”
According to the Fire District of the Union, mutual aid was provided by Narragansett, North Kingstown, CharlesTown and Kingston Fire Departments. The North Kingstown Fire Department also provided the station, while the EMS University at the South Kingstown EMS was located on the standing regime, the Fire Department said.
Because the building is near the water, the Rhode Island Environmental Management Department responded to the scene, the fire service reports.
This story used a previous report by Gail Ciampa of Personnel writer. This story was updated with new information.
This article initially appeared in Providence Journal: Fire at Matunuck Oyster Bar in South Kingstown, probably full loss