An improperly disposed firework is being blamed for a fire at a a downtown Peterborough restaurant on Monday night.
According to Peterborough Fire Services, around 10:35 p.m., crews responded to reports of flames showing in the windows at the Indian Peacock restaurant on the ground floor of a building on Simcoe Street. Adjoining the restaurant is Indian Flavours grocery store.
Platoon Chief Don Broersma said the building also has residential apartments on the second and third floors.
He said two crews extinguished the fire and a third crew ensured all residents exited the building.
Police closed the street between George and Aylmer streets as fire crews battled the blaze.
“The restaurant sustained extensive damage and the remainder of the building sustained some minor smoke damage,” he said. “All residents were able to safely exit the building.”
On Tuesday afternoon, the fire department and the Peterborough Police Service said their investigation determined the fire started inside the business around 10:30 p.m. after a used firework was not disposed of properly.
Early damage estimates are pegged at $125,000, said Broersma.
Police said they received more than a dozen noise complaints calls for service about fireworks from across the city between 9:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.
Both frontline services advise residents to review the City of Peterborough’s bylaws around the use of fireworks: https://www.peterborough.ca/en/news/fireworks-safety-in-the-city-of-peterborough.aspx.
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