
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, May 7, 1994                   TAG: 9405090139
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Laurence Hammack
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

SUIT FILED FOR INJURY IN '92 FIRE

A man injured nearly two years ago when a food booth caught fire at Roanoke's Festival in the Park filed suit Friday seeking $150,000 in damages.

Frank R. Stiteler Jr. injured his ankle as he dived away from an explosion caused when two propane gas tanks ignited and sent flames up to 20 feet high in the crowded food court at the Elmwood Park festival.

In a lawsuit filed in Roanoke Circuit Court, Stiteler claimed the fire was caused by the booth's operator, Montano's International Gourmet.

At the time of the May 23, 1992, fire, Stiteler was working in an adjacent booth for Stewart Foods Inc.

The lawsuit claims that Montano's "failure to safely operate, supervise and control the inherently dangerous flammable devices" led to Stiteler's injury.

No one else was seriously injured in the fire, which caused about $20,000 in damage.

|- LAURENCE HAMMACK

by CNB