A fire in Ithaca has destroyed a downtown business. The call came in around 6:30 last night. Multiple emergency crews responded to the 100 Block of West State Street. Upon their arrival, members of the Ithaca Fire Department saw heavy smoke coming from the Prize Diner, a single-story commercial building. Ithaca Deputy Fire Chief, Tom Parsons, says it took Ithaca firefighters about 45 minutes to put out the blaze. Parsons says personnel stayed on the scene for about an hour and a half to monitor hot spots. One firefighter suffered a minor injury while battling the fire.
Parsons says the building was not completely destroyed, but the restaurant sustained significant fire and smoke damage. The building will require substantial repairs before it can be occupied again. The Ithaca Fire Department Fire Investigation Unit is still investigating the cause.
