Chef crawled through flames to survive fire, but restaurant destroyed

SALT LAKE CITY — A devastating fire this week has left a beloved Avenues chef hospitalized with severe burns and his restaurant in ruins, following a medical emergency that turned catastrophic.

Chris Blatchford, owner of Blatch's Backyard BBQ, suffered a critical diabetic episode while lighting equipment at his vegan barbecue restaurant on Wednesday. The incident escalated rapidly, leaving Blatchford unconscious as flames engulfed the space.

"When I passed out, I hit the ground," Blatchford recounted, his face bandaged and voice trembling. "The fires were just all over. I had to crawl through the flames to escape with my life."

Despite blacking out multiple times, Blatchford's adrenaline kicked in, allowing him to drag himself to safety. He was later transported to the hospital with burns covering his face, arms and neck.

The restaurant, which had earned accolades for its innovative plant-based barbecue, now sits charred and shuttered. Damage is estimated to be hundreds of thousands of dollars.

"This is my dream," Blatchford said. "I don't think I've even fully accepted it yet."

But even amid the ashes, hope flickers. "I'll find a way to come back and get to where we were — and probably be even bigger and better," he vowed.

Known not just for his food but also for his philosophy, Blatchford added, "My whole stance is to make the world a better place."

As the community rallies around him, one thing is clear: Blatch's Backyard BBQ may be closed for now, but its spirit — and its chef — are far from extinguished.

A GoFundMe* account has been started to help rebuild Blatch's Backyard BBQ.

*KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited into the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.

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