MILTON — Cisco’s Restaurant owner Betty Ingram is dealing with the aftermath of a devastating fire at her Caroline Street business.
“I am still trying to comprehend it,” she said. “Cisco’s has been open since 1980, I have had it since 1990 and we have never had anything like this. We have been broke into a bunch of times, but nothing this devastating.”
Ingram said the fire began around 6:30 p.m. Monday. The restaurant was closed and unoccupied at the time. After speaking with Milton Fire Department officials, who responded to extinguish the fire, Ingram believes the cause might be electrical.
According to a Milton FD worksheet, the fire started in the restaurant’s office and caused an estimated $75,000 in damage.
“(The fire) really didn’t destroy anything except for my office back to the bathrooms,” Ingram said.
Due to heavy smoke damage, Ingram said many interior items must be replaced. The restaurant’s building is still standing and most equipment was undamaged, she said.
Ingram said the restaurant could take months to reopen.
On Tuesday, Ingram continued to clean up the inside of the restaurant with her family’s help. She said she is now concerned for her 10 employees, who are temporarily out of work.
That’s especially difficult during the holidays, she said.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Cisco’s Restaurant closed indefinitely following fire