Fire damages back of iconic Modesto restaurant Scenic Drive-In

Fast work by Modesto firefighters helped save one of Modesto’s iconic burger joints.

The Scenic Drive-In, home of the Knockout burger, suffered damage to the back of its building when a fire broke out Friday night, according to Randy Anderson, battalion chief of the Modesto Fire Department.

Firefighters were called to the nearly 60-year-old restaurant on Scenic Drive just west of Coffee Road on a report of fire coming from the roof.

When they arrived, they found flames on the backside of the small, one-story building. With fire having burned through a back door, fire crews entered from the front while others fought the fire in the back.

They quickly extinguished the blaze, which extended across the ceiling area, Anderson said.

Damage was estimated at $10,000. Because it’s a restaurant, an inspector with the Stanislaus County Health Department was called in to assess the damage.

The restaurant opened in 1956. Modesto filmmaker George Lucas was said to have eaten there often when he was a student at John Muir Elementary School.

This story was originally published August 22, 2015 at 1:33 AM with the headline "Fire damages back of iconic Modesto restaurant Scenic Drive-In."