ORANGE – Sixty firefighters from multiple agencies spent about three hours battling a fire at the Spicy Thai Restaurant on Chapman Avenue on Thursday, authorities said.

The first report of “heavy smoke” and fire came in shortly before 2 a.m., said Orange City Fire Capt. Casey Fieldhouse. The building was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived and the fight got more complex.

“Approximately 40 minutes into the incident, the building facade collapsed – shearing the gas meter and igniting a gas fire next to the building,” Fieldhouse said.

Firefighters attacked the blaze from the ground and from above with ladders and tower-mounted hoses.

“The fire was controlled in approximately two hours, but took an additional hour to fully extinguish,” Fieldhouse said. Firefighters prevented the fire from spreading to adjacent buildings.

The cause of the fire was under investigation Thursday morning. A preliminary damage estimate was not available.

No injuries were reported.

Anyone with information can contact Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS (855-847-6227).

Contact the writer: 714-796-7802 or jsudock@scng.com