Structure fire causes employee evacuation at Cafe Rio in Pocatello

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – Around noon on Sunday, August 9, employees evacuated the Cafe Rio in Pocatello when a small structure fire broke out on the side of the building. Emergency crews including Pocatello Fire and ambulances rushed to the scene.

Employees stated they smelled smoke inside the restaurant but could not see any flames. Fire crews arrived and found a section of the wall on the side entrance of the building in a blaze. Firefighters quickly put out the fire and contained it to a small area of the structure.

Pocatello Fire said they do not know the cause of the fire, but ruled out electrical. They said it could have been a variety of things, down to a flick of a cigarette butt in the direction of the Cafe Rio.

Within a half hour, emergency crews contained the fire and employees were let into the building to resume work. The Cafe Rio will remain open for their normal business hours as they work to clean up the fire residue and damages to the section of the building. The doors to the restuarant are also open with large fans blowing to air out the smoke smell.