Mounties are investigating a suspicious fire at Anducci's restaurant in Burnaby, B.C. early Saturday morning, but can not confirm media reports it started with a lobbed Molotov cocktail.
The single-alarm fire broke out shortly after 3 a.m. on the patio furniture of the restaurant, located on Hastings Street at Stratford Avenue.
The blaze eventually caused one of the building's windows to burst, letting smoke into the building and causing damage throughout the restaurant.
Assistant Fire Chief Rick Weir said the restaurant will have to be inspected by health authorities before it can be re-opened.
"They've got to come in and make sure none of the food was spoiled," Weir said, adding that a restoration company is set to come in and clean up the premises.
RCMP Staff Sgt Dave Eidet said the investigation is still in its early stages, but that the fire is of a suspicious nature.
"The cause and so on, I don't know," he said.
Weir said crews were able to extinguish the fire quickly. He could not comment on reports that it was started with a Molotov cocktail.
"It's an RCMP crime scene now, I can't divulge any of that information," Weir said.
Anducci's restaurant has been in business for 21 years. A sister establishment, Anducci's Italian Kitchen, is located on Cameron Street.
