Business destroyed, 3 displaced, 2 firefighters injured after fire in New Bedford

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WLNE) — A fire tore through a popular cafe, sending two firefighters to the hospital and displacing three residents in New Bedford early Friday morning.

According to New Bedford Deputy Fire Chief, Brian Medeiros, the department got a call reporting a fire at Tony’s Bar and Café at around 6:30 a.m.

Crews said they saw heavy smoke coming from the bar area of the first-floor establishment that was traveling into the apartments above.

Accordin to Deputy Chief Medeiros, three people were living in the apartments above at the time. They were able to escape safely.

Crews worked until early afternoon on Friday to extinguish the fire and officials said they believe it to be a total loss.

“We have a partial collapse and there is some brick work on the other side that is collapsing. I am not sure if this is salvageable,” Deputy Chief Medeiros said.

Two firefighters were also taken to St. Luke’s Hospital with minor injuries.

The investigation remains ongoing by the New Bedford Fire Department and State Fire Marshal.