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Nov. 11--ROCK HILL -- A Rock Hill restaurant was significantly damaged in a fire that took three hours to clear Thursday night.
Three engine trucks, a ladder truck and a battalion chief with about 14 firefighters responded to the fire at Sahara Mediterranean Restaurant at 1014 India Hook Road around 9:50 p.m. Thursday, said Capt. Charlie Sizemore with the Rock Hill Fire Department.
Sizemore said there was heavy fire, smoke and water damage to the restaurant, located near where Ebenezer Road, Oakland Avenue and India Hook Road meet.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
No one was inside the restaurant and no injuries were reported, he said.
A Rock Hill police officer was patrolling the area Thursday evening when he noticed thick black smoke coming from the roof of the restaurant, according to a Rock Hill police report.
Rock Hill Fire was called out along with a fire investigator. Authorities contacted Sahara's owner, Adel Ahmed.
"I came back and found the whole thing on fire," Ahmed said Friday morning.
Ahmed was renting the space and doesn't know whether he'll rebuild.
"The damage is so much, and I don't know if I'm going to (rebuild) at this point," he said.
Ahmed said he left just before 9 p.m. and an employee left at about 9:30 p.m.
Officials estimate the fire caused about $200,000 in extensive damage.
Of the two businesses that share a building with Sahara, one only had minor damage.
The scene was clear by 1 a.m., he said.
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