Illinois Valley News

On Tuesday, March 23, Illinois Valley Fire District (IVFD) Chief Harry Rich announced that Fire Marshal Jerry Schaeffer was placed on paid administrative leave, pending the outcome of a complaint-driven internal investigation.

The investigation, which came after IVFD began conducting code enforcement inspections at many Cave Junction-based restaurants, eventually cleared Schaeffer of any wrong-doing. Schaeffer was to return to duty as of Wednesday, March 31, said Rich.

In response to a public records request, IVFD submitted documentation of the inspections to the Illinois Valley News. The records involve inspections conducted at approximately 11 restaurants, ranging in dates from January 2008 to earlier this month.

Most of those inspections were conducted by Capt. Kamron Ismaili. But the IVFD inspection documents state that Schaeffer conducted an inspection of Nacho Mamas on Tuesday, March 16, approximately a week before the fire marshal was placed on administrative leave.

According to IVFD documents, Ismaili inspected Nacho Mamas on Nov. 24 and Dec. 28, 2009. The business was given until Jan. 29 to achieve compliance, the documents state. Schaeffer then returned to Nacho Mamas on Jan. 29, the documents state, and the business was given a March 9 compliance deadline.

During a Friday, March 19 interview, Nacho Mamas owner Andrea Thomas confirmed that Schaeffer conducted the March 16 inspection.

Thomas said that the inspection occurred around 1 p.m. during a lunch rush. She was serving customers, along with one employee, and asked that Schaeffer return later.

Schaeffer returned around 3 p.m., Thomas said. By then, the restaurant was far less busy.

The subsequent inspection of the inside and outside of the facility was characterized by Thomas as “confrontational.“ She said that the customers present at the time were becoming quite angry with Schaeffer.

“We were all a little stunned,“ Thomas said. “It was that serious.“

Thomas said she tried to phone IVFD immediately afterwards to complain, but the office was closed. She was, however, able to get through the next morning.

On Thursday, March 18, Thomas said that a delivery driver from AmeriGas arrived at Nacho Mamas and informed her that the company had been ordered not to refuel the business until it achieved fire code compliance.

Anthony Chan, owner of King“s Chinese Cuisine, tells a similar story.

During an inspection last January, Chan said, he was informed that he needed a new kitchen hood and fire system. Chan said the hood would cost around $6,000, and the fire system would cost $3,000.

“It didn“t make sense to me,“ Chan said.

Chan said that he pleaded for more time to achieve compliance, as he could not afford to make the required improvements.

“I needed to make money first,“ he said.

Chan said he later was phoned by a representative from the gas company, and was told that no deliveries could be received until compliance was achieved.

Thomas said that routine inspections of her business began around last Thanksgiving. IVFD documents confirm that there was an inspection of Nacho Mamas on Nov. 24.

Also inspected that day were Michelle“s Family Restaurant & Lounge, and King“s Chinese Cuisine, according to IVFD documents. Wild River Brewing & Pizza Co. was inspected on Nov. 25, along with River Valley Restaurant. The documents state that Ismaili performed all those inspections.

Thomas said that since the inspections began, she has tried to achieve compliance as best she can. She said she has installed new electrical switches and outlets, changed an outside light and purchased a fire extinguisher.

“If I had the money, it would be done now,“ she stated.

A better approach for achieving fire code compliance would have been to hold a community forum with business owners, Thomas believes.

“That would have been the way to do it,“ Thomas said. “I think it“s a great program; it was just done wrong.“

Rich visited Nacho Mamas on Friday, March 19 and assured Thomas that IVFD won“t force the business into closure. The restaurant has since received a gas shipment, as has King“s Chinese Cuisine.

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