Firefighters from multiple counties help put out fire at Avery County restaurant

BANNER ELK, N.C. (WBTV) - Multiple fire departments responded to a fire at a Mexican restaurant in Avery County Saturday morning.

A fire at Puerto Nuevo Mexican and Seafood Restaurant in Banner Elk began around 11:30 a.m. while it was open for business.

Firefighters from Banner Elk, Linville, Foscoe, Watauga County and Beech Mountain responded to the scene. Other counties were notified to assist with any other fire traffic in the county.

First responders were on scene for several hours and stopped the fire with only minor damages inside the restaurant and other parts of the multi-business building.

Most of the fire happened on decorative outside portions of the building and in a decorative rotunda at the entrance of the restaurant.

The cause was accidental and it started in the upper portion of the rotunda.

“With great team work from all fire service, we were able to minimize damage to the rest of the structure with only smoke damage to the restaurant and a few of the other businesses,” Avery County Fire Department said.