This is definitely the city manager's fault or at least those darn union employees in the fire department, right?

It is important to note that the water damage was not caused by the sprinkler system. The fire was in the attic space and apparently caused by substandard venting for the pizza oven. The vent also was placed in such a way as to, improperly, shield the sensor in the fire sprinkler. As a result the fire sprinkler did not activate until the fire in this confined space had both gotten quite hot and also spread around the backside of the vent to where the sprinkler was located. Before the sprinkler was activated the fire melted a joint in the regular water distribution system and it was that water which did the water damage. Once activated the fire sprinkler did its job as designed and suppressed the fire. The fire sprinkler activation also prevented a potentially deadly roof collapse given the bridge truss construction used in this ceiling and roof structure. The fire sprinkler was promptly deactivated once the firefighters were on the scene. As noted, the water damage was caused by a fire induced breach in the regular water distribution system.

Peter,

How do you get this information?! I'm amazed at how much you know so quickly.

I simply asked the Fire Chief - because I knew that the sprinkler system would not cause any significant water damage.

What ever the cause we sure hope the Posh Bagel gets back on its feet quickly! We will miss not only the bagels, but the great people who run the place!

Best to all of the business owners/workers.

How is it that there could be substandard venting? Doesn't the city or fire department or both inspect such things as part of the building permit process? This makes no sense to me.

It is possible that Cafe Silan's pizza oven was added after they opened without a permit.