MONTPELIER –– A blaze erupted at a popular local restaurant in the early hours on Saturday, causing significant damage and displacing five residents from a neighboring building.
Capitol Dispatch alerted the fire department to the incident at The Mad Taco on 70 Main Street at 11:10 p.m. on Oct. 28.
The on-duty crew arrived on the scene within a minute of the call and found heavy flames engulfing the front of the establishment.
The officer in charge promptly called for a second alarm assignment and initiated an initial fire attack.
The restaurant, along with the rear of the adjacent building, Charlie O’s, sustained substantial fire and water damage.
Despite the severity of the fire, there were no reported injuries.
Five tenants from the building adjoining Charlie O’s were temporarily displaced due to the incident.
The fire was declared under control at around 1:00 a.m.
Crews cleared the scene by 4:00 a.m., with a fire watch remaining on the scene throughout the morning hours.
Investigators from the State of Vermont Division of Fire Safety are expected to arrive on the scene later this morning to determine the cause of the fire.
A host of neighboring fire departments including Barre City, East Montpelier, Berlin, Northfield, Waterbury, Worcester, Barre Town, Plainfield, and Williamstown, alongside Barre Town EMS, provided mutual aid. The Montpelier Police Department and the City of Montpelier City Government are also assisting in the ongoing investigation and recovery efforts.
