Mar Vista restaurant reports smoke incident

Longboat Key Fire Rescue responded to a report of smoke and a possible fire at Mar Vista Dockside Restaurant & Pub at 10 a.m. this morning.

Employees getting ready for the afternoon lunch crowd were evacuated from the restaurant while Longboat Key firefighter/paramedics and a West Manatee Fire Rescue crew investigated the restaurant.

Longboat Key Deputy Fire Chief Rocky Parker said an air conditioning air handler wasn’t working properly and started to smoke on top of the roof.

Employees were allowed back into the restaurant at 10:30 a.m. to prepare for the lunch crowd. 

Contact Kurt Schultheis at kschultheis@yourobserver.com.