Fire consumes second Mexican restaurant in less than a month

Dec. 18--Fire burned through much of Henderson Mexican restaurant Habanero Grill early Monday morning, less than a month after flames consumed another Mexican restaurant on the other side of town.

The Henderson Fire Department was dispatched to the restauran at 116 Parham Road at about 2:48 a.m. According to Henderson Fire Chief Steve Cordell, when fire units arrived on the scene they found heavy fire and smoke conditions.

After aggressively attacking the flames, Cordell said that the fire was marked under control by about 3:30 a.m. No injuries were reported.

Cordell said the cause of the fire is still under investigation by his department along with assistance from the Henderson Police Department and the State Bureau of Investigation.

However, Habanero owners Blanca Arriaga and Guillermo Rangel, who opened the restaurant in August 2016, said they believe that someone broke into the restaurant before setting the fire.

""It looks like someone broke in. They broke the window. And they stole the money from the safe. And they set the fire probably," Arriaga said, confirming that the building had been deemed a total loss after the flames burned up much of the restaurant's back half.

Cordell also could not say if the Habanero Grill fire is related in anyway to the Nov. 27 fire which destroyed Mazatlan, another of Henderson's Mexican restaurants.

Like Monday's fire, the Mazatlan fire was a total loss and took place during the early morning hours. The cause of the Mazatlan fire is still under investigation and could be weeks to months before the cause is determined.

Arriaga and Rangel said everything was normal when they closed up Sunday night before the fire. They have no idea who or what may have caused the fire.

As for what their plans are moving forward, Arriaga said that they are already working with their insurance company and plan to rebuild.

"I just want to thank my customers for being loyal customers," she said. "We will try to reopen as soon as possible."

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