Poncho's Restaurant Fire Under Investigation in Macomb County

Firefighters responded to a fire Sunday morning at Poncho's restaurant in New Baltimore. 

Deputy Fire Chief Brian Bilinski told Patch the fire department received a call for a structure fire at the popular Mexican restaurant at 6:40 a.m. at 37029 Green Street that was vacant at the time.

"Dispatch advised us that there was heavy smoke and flames coming from the rear of the building," Bilinski said of the business' entrance facing the parking lot. 

Bilinski, who was first to arrive at the scene, called in a second alarm on the fire that brought support from Chesterfield Township, Ira Township, Lenox Township, New Haven and Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township. He credited the responding departments for helping city firefighters get the flames under control quickly.  

By 9:20 a.m., the fire was completely out. The cause and origin remain under investigation. The estimated amount of damage has not been determined but it's not expected to be a total building loss, according to the fire department. 

The building will be boarded up for an undetermined amount of time while a routine investigation takes place, fire officials said. 

Check back with Patch for updates.