PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A North Philadelphia restaurant went up in flames early Friday morning. Firefighters battled the blaze in the bitter cold, working fast to make sure it didn't spread to the gas station next door.
The fire started around 3:45 a.m. at Bella Vista, a Latin fusion restaurant, bar and nightclub located at Whitaker and Hunting Park avenues. The blaze started toward the back of the building and raged on for hours, filling the air with thick smoke.
High winds blew the smoke around, as well as moisture from the water that was used to fight the fire. As that moisture hit the ground, it froze, creating slippery conditions.
Crews continued to blast water at the building, and at least part of the roof collapsed.
Executive Fire Chief Daniel McCarty said it took about three hours to get the situation under control.
"As we're hitting this with water, again, it's freezing out here, so that water turns to ice and it starts to become heavy on this restaurant, which gives in," he explained.
Fire officials said no one was inside at the time, and there were no injuries. Crews also contained the fire so the flames didn't touch the Exxon gas station that is only feet away.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
