Two Fairfax County, Va., bartenders got burned for a stunt they perform to entertain customers.
Tegee Rogers and Justin Fedorchak could spend up to 45 years in prison for breathing fire at Jimmy's Old Town Tavern in Herndon.
The bar's owner, Jimmy Cirrito, told InsideNoVA.com that he first saw fire-breathing bartenders in San Diego in the 1990s. He's had bartenders performing the trick -- midnight on Fridays and on special occasions -- ever since he opened Jimmy's 13 years ago.
But on July 24, the Fairfax County Fire Marshal's Office arrested Rogers and Fedorchak.
Investigators said the men were charged in connection with a fire that caused $200 in damages at the restaurant at 697 Spring St. in Herndon about 12:30 a.m. July 24.
Cirrito said the men were performing the fire-breathing trick and nothing was damaged, though some of the fire-resistant ceiling tiles have become discolored over the years.
“We don’t feel like we did anything wrong,” Cirrito said. “We’ve breathed fire for years.”
Rogers and Fedorchak were charged with three felonies and other misdemeanors, InsideNoVA.com reported. The charges include manufacturing an explosive device, setting a fire capable of spreading, and burning or destroying a meeting house.
Cirrito said he has never been warned about the trick and he would have stopped it if he had been.
Local
Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information
Fan, Follow and Text: Get the latest from NBCWashington.com anytime, anywhere. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Sign up for our e-mail newsletters and get breaking news delivered right to your mobile phone -- just text DCBREAKING to 622339 to sign up. (Message and data rates may apply.)
