DENMARK — Two families were displaced after a large fire destroyed a three-story apartment building and restaurant Sunday. 

According to Denmark fire Department Deputy Chief Ryan Lord, the blaze at 5 Bull Ring Road affected between “six to eight people.” There were no injuries, he said. 

Pets in the residences were safely removed. 

The building was a complete loss. The first floor of the building was home to a newly opened restaurant, the Italian Moose. The top two floors were apartments, which the restaurant owners rented out to family, Lord said.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the state fire marshal’s office. Fire Chief Dana Costello told news outlets late Sunday night that fire may have been sparked by the building’s heating system. Family members reported first seeing flames coming from a second-floor bedroom, Lord said. 

Firefighters were called to the scene Sunday around 6:42 p.m. Upon arrival, Lord said the building was “fully engaged” with embers, driven by high winds and threatening neighboring buildings, which were doused with water. Crews departed around 1:30 a.m. Monday morning. 

Lord was unsure of the family’s identity, but said it included at least one school-aged child. The American Red Cross was assisting the families with emergency supplies. Those displaced are believed to be staying with family in the area, Lord said. 

“It was a very old building,” Lord said. “It went up very quickly. The wind was heavy last night and didn’t help.” 

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