You may want to reconsider “Having it your way” at the Burger King franchise in Twentynine Palms. Calling it “An immediate threat to public health and safety”, the County office of Public Health ordered the immediate closure of the fast-food operation at Encelia and the highway after an inspection on June 14th. According to the inspector’s report, the closure was ordered after evidence of vermin activity throughout the restaurant. The inspector said fresh rodent droppings were found, among other places, under the fryer area and on top of food wrappers, in ice scoops that were currently in use and on the floor both inside the counter and in customer serving area. The inspection also noted old and new droppings in about a dozen other locations in food preparation and storage areas. The inspection was in response to public complaints of an odor of decaying rodents. The inspector returned to the Burger King location the next day, June 15th, for a mandatory supervisory hearing with the Twentynine Palms Burger King management team. After the hearing and subsequent reinspection, the restaurant was allowed to open again. The restaurant was inspected again on June 18th at which time, while old droppings were still found, no new ones were evident and the restaurant was again allowed to stay open. Public Health officials will be back at the Burger King location again on June 23 to verify continued compliance and to inspect for continued signs of rodent activity.
