Fire disrupts business at Don Carlos restaurant in Jackson

A fire that broke out at Don Carlos restaurant in Jackson could have been much worse had it not been seen by a couple of passersby at around 9 p.m. Sunday, June 16.

Jackson Fire Department chief deputy of administration Randy Davis said a couple of kids in a vehicle at the stoplight at East Jackson Boulevard saw the fire and had their father call 911.

Firefighters responded and had the fire contained within about 10 minutes, Davis said. He said the fire happened in the bar area.

He said the cause of the fire is officially undetermined, but it’s believed a piece of equipment started the fire.

He said the business was closed Monday, June 17, as the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center inspected the place, and as workers cleaned up from the smoke damage and the water from the hoses.

The fire left a 2-foot-wide scorch mark up the wall behind the bar.

Carlos Hernandez, an employee at Don Carlos, told the Southeast Missourian on Monday he hoped the restaurant would reopen later this week. He said customers can check the restaurant’s Facebook page for an announcement about the reopening.