(CHICAGO) Firefighters spent more than three hours battling an extra-alarm fire that caused extensive damage to a Pilsen neighborhood restaurant early Wednesday on the Southwest Side.
Crews were called to the scene of the two-alarm fire at Nuevo Leon, 1515 W. 18th St., at 12:17 a.m., according to police and Fire Media Affairs.
The fire was extinguished by 3:30 a.m., fire officials said. It took 39 fire companies and 100 fire department personnel to contain the blaze.
The restaurant had been in business for 53 years before it was destroyed by the fire, owner Daniel Gutierrez told reporters at the scene.
“I’m worried about my employees right now, then my customers,” Gutierrez said. “My employees. A lot of people out of work right now.”
Gutierrez said he didn’t know how the fire started. The second shift left about 11 p.m. Tuesday, and he was called about the fire shortly after midnight.
He said he plans to rebuild the restaurant.
No injuries were reported in the blaze, authorities said. The cause remains under investigation.
