Fire at Bellisario's Restaurant in McCandless ruled accidental

A fire at Bellisario’s Restaurant on Duncan Avenue Feb. 13 was determined to be accidental, according to McCandless Fire Marshal Jeff Wissner.

Fire crews responded about 5:40 p.m. and found smoke in the restaurant and a fire burning in an outside post that supports an overhanging roof. The fire had extended into the roof but was quickly contained, according to Wissner.

Local fire companies that responded included Peebles, Ingomar and Highland. McCandless police also responded.

“The fire companies did an excellent job responding,” said Wissner, at a Feb. 14 McCandless Town Council meeting.

“It did not spread internally just because of the quick fire response,” he said.

There were no injuries, he said.

Founder Don Bellisario, of Shaler said on Feb. 15 that he expected everything to “be up and running” within the next few days.

His nephew Anthony Bellisario said someone threw a cigarette into mulch near the building, causing the fire. The restaurant had an extensive fire four years ago followed by about a year of renovations.

It reopened three years ago just prior to the pandemic, he said.