A vehicle fire briefly shut down the Cook Out restaurant in Southern Pines on Christmas Eve after a car caught fire in the drive-through. The incident was reported around 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the Cook Out on U.S. 1.
Authorities on scene told Sandhills Sentinel that the fire broke out after a newer model Kia Optima began smoking while in the drive-through, prompting the driver to exit the vehicle moments before it became fully engulfed in flames.
The driver was not injured, and she was able to get away safely. No other vehicles were damaged, and the fire did not cause damage to the restaurant building…