Fire engulfs Des Plaines pizza parlor

Des Plaines firefighters Wednesday battled an early morning blaze that engulfed Mugavero's Pizza & Ribs, 600 Central Road in Des Plaines. No one was injured but the restaurant suffered extensive damage and will remain closed for some time, officials said. Photo courtesy of Des Plaines Fire Department

An early morning fire Wednesday engulfed Mugavero's Pizza & Ribs, 600 Central Road in Des Plaines, heavily damaging the restaurant.

There were no occupants in the building at the time of the fire and no one was injured, said Chris Wozny, acting battalion chief of the Des Plaines Fire Department.

Firefighters arrived at the restaurant shortly after 5 a.m. to find heavy smoke and a large fire in progress. Crews contained the fire to its origin and extinguished it about 20 minutes from arrival of the first units, officials said.

Des Plaines fire responded with two engines, two ladder trucks, three ambulances, and were aided by an engine from Mount Prospect and a ladder truck from Niles. A Wheeling engine and a Glenview ambulance provided coverage for the Des Plaines fire station during the fire.

The restaurant suffered extensive damage, and will be closed for an extended period of time, officials said.

Neighboring businesses in the same strip mall sustained some smoke damage, but were not affected by flames. Power was cut to the shopping center and those businesses would be able to reopen later today, Wozny said.

Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the fire. An estimated loss has not yet been determined, officials said.

"They're going to have to do some work if they're going to reopen in that unit," Wozny said. "There was smoke, water and fire damage to pretty much the whole unit."