COLONIE — A fire that likely started in a Chinese restaurant in the Shaker Pine Plaza at the intersection of Route 155 and Watervliet Shaker Road did heavy damage to three businesses on Monday, June 15.
The call came in at around 7:30 p.m., and when crews arrived there were flames coming through the roof, said Midway Fire Chief Robert Sammons.
It appears to have started in the ventilation system of The Dragon Garden Restaurant, he said, but the cause is still under investigation. The restaurant, which supported a “We Are Open!!!” sign on the front door, was heavily damaged.
The restaurant was open at the time of the fire but everyone was able to evacuate safely.
The businesses on either side of the restaurant, Surroundings Florist shop and Martini’s Deli, suffered significant smoke and water damage, Sammons said.
The plaza, owned by Rosetti Properties, is also home to Capital Midwifery, a dry cleaners and a barber shop.
Midway was the lead department and it was assisted by the Village of Colonie, Fuller Road, Stanford Heights, Westmere and others.
The fire was extinguished in less than a half hour.
“When we have a building this big we want to have plenty of help here so it doesn’t get out of hand,” Sammons said.
The timing of the fire could not have been worse for the business owners already struggling with shutdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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