PHOTO by Noah Zimmerly

UPDATED 8:45 a.m. February 3

By Paula Pyzik Scott

Firefighters have responded to a blaze at Viva Maria Italian Restaurant in the 100 block of South Main St. on the afternoon of Monday, February 2.

The Hardin County dispatch center received a 911 call at about 1:45 p.m. Multiple fire departments joined the Ada-Liberty Fire Department in responding to the incident.

The following morning Fire Chief Jay Epley told the Icon that Main St. reopened at about 3:00 a.m. and that he would be meeting with the Ohio Fire Marshal for the investigation of how the fire started. Demolition work on the building is being planned.

He thanked the state and Village crews that put salt down to deal with frozen water from battling the fire.

Related power outages impacted some nearby businesses. AEP shows power outages have cleared.

Ada Icon readers shared photographs showing a major fire affecting both the restaurant and the Cask Room bar next door, which closed in December.

Ada Police Chief Alec Cooper told the Icon that no injuries had been reported but that the investigation was ongoing.