Dino's suffers major fire damage; building not deemed total loss

The interior of Dino's Pizza on Broadway was heavily damaged in a fire early Wednesday morning.

According to Cape Girardeau Fire Department battalion chief Mark Starnes, the restaurant's owner called the fire department around 2:15 a.m. and reported hearing a loud pop and seeing a fire in the basement. The owner lived in an apartment attached to the restaurant and was not injured.

Upon arrival of firefighters, moderate smoke was coming from the first and second floors.

According to a news release, firefighters began attacking the fire in the basement. Units from Jackson, Scott City and Gordonville responded after a second alarm was called. The fire was contained within an hour, but due to more smoke, Starnes said, the firefighters had to break through walls in several areas, and discovered another small fire in the wall of the owner's apartment on the first floor in the back of the building.

Starnes said the cause of the fire is still under investigation but the fire marshal and fire inspectors said the cause appeared to be electrical.

Starnes said there is heavy fire damage to the basement, heavy smoke damage to the first and second floors and extensive damage from firefighters performing a search for the second fire, but the building has not been deemed a total loss.

Two housecats were removed from the building but died due to smoke inhalation.

Kostas "Gus" Demopoulos could not be reached for comment, but posted on his Facebook page Wednesday that he did not plan to reopen Dino's anytime soon.

Pertinent address:

1034 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, MO