A fire destroyed a restaurant in De Soto early May 19. No injuries were reported, De Soto Fire Chief Tony Ochoa said.
He said the De Soto Fire Department got a call at 5:55 a.m. about the fire at Junction Cafe, 106 S. Main St., and when the first crews arrived, flames were coming from the back of building, and heavy smoke was throughout the restaurant. Firefighters attacked the fire from the back of the building and by entering the front of the building.
Once the fire was under control, firefighters pulled the ceiling down to make sure the fire hadn’t spread.
“It was a two-story building, and the fire didn’t make it to the second story,” he said.
Ochoa said the Missouri State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating to determine the cause, adding that he believes they are leaning toward an electrical fire at the back of the building.
A fire heavily damages the Junction Cafe in De Soto.
He said no one was at the restaurant when the fire started.
“It was a total loss,” he said. “They are going to have to gut the whole place.”
Firefighters from the Festus and Crystal City fire departments and the De Soto Rural, Hematite, Dunklin, Hillsboro, Jefferson R-7, Mapaville and St. Clair fire protection districts helped with the call. The Valle Ambulance District also responded to the scenee. Firefighters remained on the scene until noon, Ochoa said.
He said he was sad to see the loss of a well-known and well-loved establishment in De Soto.
However, it appears the owners, Jeremiah and Lory Larrigan, plan to rebuild.
“We are truly heartbroken and devastated by (the fire); we don’t know what happened yet, but we do know we aren't going anywhere. We love De Soto and love the community. Thank you for all the kind words and support; it's much appreciated.”