Midway Restaurant blaze likely caused by discarded cigarette

Connor Linskey, The Chronicle, Willimantic, Conn.
·1 min read

Aug. 24—ASHFORD — Several local fire departments responded to a fire at Midway Restaurant and Pizza in Ashford late on the evening this past Saturday.

Ashford Fire Marshal Charles Sweetland said the Ashford Fire Department responded to the call for the fire at 11:46 p.m. on Saturday.

In addition to Ashford, the Eastford, Mansfield, Tolland, Willington, Willington Hill and Chaplin fire departments responded to the scene of the fire.

Sweetland said it took approximately two hours for the firefighters to extinguish the flames. The firefighters remained on scene for additional work until about 6 a.m.

Sweetland said that no injuries were caused by the fire. He added that the structure of the restaurant is salvageable.

" The main portion of the restaurant was saved," Sweetland said.

Although the main portion of the restaurant was saved, Sweetland said that the bar area of the restaurant sustained significant damage.

Sweetland said it looks like the fire was caused by a lit cigarette that had been discarded.

Midway Restaurant & Pizza was closed during the middle of the day on Monday. Road closed signs and yellow caution tape directed traffic away from the restaurant's parking lot. Red danger tape surrounded one of the entrances to the eatery. Broken glass was all over the ground by the entrance. The roof of the restaurant was charred.

The restaurant's phone system also seemed to be nonoperational.

It is unclear when/if the restaurant will open again.

An employee from Midway Restaurant & Pizza could not be reached for comment for this story.