Round Lake area firefighters quickly stopped a fire from spreading at a Round Lake Beach restaurant on Thanksgiving Day, allowing the business to remain open and operating.
Battalion Chief Charley Mitchell of the Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District said firefighters were called to Lomeli’s Rosticeria, 1316 North Cedar Lake Road in Round Lake Beach, at 2:47 p.m. Thursday for reports of a fire.
Firefighters who arrived at the restaurant at 2:50 p.m. reported not immediately seeing any smoke or fire from the building.
Firefighters continued to investigate and found a small fire on an outside deck of the building, Mitchell said.
Mitchell said firefighters quickly snuffed out the fire, limiting any damage.
Firefighters remained on scene for an additional hour to check and make sure there were no lingering issues and to investigate the blaze, Mitchell said.
The building is a two-story structure with apartment units on the upper level and the restaurant on the lower level.
The business was fulfilling orders at the time and was scheduled to close at 3 p.m. for Thanksgiving.
Mitchell said the business was allowed to reopen immediately after firefighters left.
One of the business owners told Lake & McHenry County Scanner that business will continue as usual for Black Friday.
The owner thanked firefighters for their quick actions in containing the fire to the deck area.
“I’m very appreciative they responded quickly,” she said.
The owner said that the apartments on the upper level were not damaged.
The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.
Lomeli’s Rosticeria is a popular family-owned Mexican restaurant that’s been a staple in the Round Lake area.
“We love this area,” the owner said.