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3-Alarm Fire Guts San Jose Restaurant

SAN JOSE (CBS SF) -- Fire rips through a San Jose restaurant causing major damage and heartbreak.

The incident was reported at 8:27 a.m. at Jimmy's Restaurant located at 222 W. Capitol Expressway. The fire was upgraded to a third alarm around 8:40 a.m.

The fire started in the kitchen behind the hood and duct system inside the restaurant. An extinguishment system went off several times, but was unable to extinguish the fire due to its location.

Watching the firefighters battle the flames was hard enough for customers and employees of the restaurant. But for one man, there are no words.

Jimmy Barrous didn't want to talk on camera. Friends and family tried to console him as smoke poured out of the restaurant he opened decades ago.

jimmy's fire
(CBS SF)

Half the kitchen is gone, but the dining area was saved. Employee Gigi Green says Barrous is a great boss.

"I feel bad for Jimmy," she said. "Everybody loves Jimmy. So it hurts to see that you he has to deal with this."

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