Popular breakfast joint damaged in North Providence fire

NORTH PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) – A popular restaurant in North Providence is badly damaged after a fire broke out Friday afternoon.
Officials say the two-alarm fire started at Mayzey’s around 2:00 p.m. just as the restaurant was closing up for the day.
Firefighters say the bitter cold and wind made the blaze difficult to fight and that flames quickly spread to the building next door.
“The cold temperature hampers our efforts to fight the fire because obviously we have the freezing water,” said N. Providence Fire Chief John Silva. “Weather does have a big effect on the firefighting.”
Mutual aid was called in from Providence, Pawtucket, Smithfield and Johnston to help put the fire out.
“They were able to stop it between the original fire and the extension and pretty much save the whole block,” said Chief Silva.
“This could have been a disaster. As you can see the buildings are so close together,” said the town’s mayor, Charles Lombardi.
Lombardi says Mayzey’s is a staple in the neighborhood.
“The buildings can be rebuilt and replaced. Bottom line is no one was seriously hurt. And the firefighters did a tremendous job,” said Lombardi.
Chief Silva said the restaurant is not a total loss and estimates repairs could take a month.
A resident on the second floor of the second building that caught fire was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.