An employee of a Mexican restaurant in Parkland accidentally sparked a fire Monday that destroyed the building.
The blaze was reported about 2 p.m. at Hacienda Real, 13021 Pacific Ave. Central Pierce Fire & Rescue crews responded but were quickly forced into defensive mode after flames reached the roof.
Restaurant crews had used a propane weed burner earlier in the afternoon and then placed it in a back storage area.
The hot nozzle ignited and employees quickly noticed smoke beneath a commercial refrigerator that backed up against the storage room, Assistant Chief Randy Stephens said.
The building was a total loss, with the value estimated at about $200,000.
Stephens said the building owner planned to sleep at the restaurant overnight until the insurance company can secure the premises.
Stacia Glenn, stacia.glenn@thenewstribune.com
JOIN THE DISCUSSION | Register here
We welcome comments. Please keep them civil, short and to the point. ALL CAPS, spam, obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Thanks for taking part — and abiding by these simple rules. A thorough explanation of rules of conduct can be found in our Terms of Service. If you have any questions, including why your comment may not be showing immediately after you submit it, be sure to visit the commenting FAQ.