Fire Strikes Local Restaurant For Second Time In 2 Years

AGOURA HILLS, CA — Mejico Grill and Tequila Lounge set fire on Friday for the second time in just two years.

Photos posted by The Acorn show the restaurant's burnt frame after the Agoura Hills structure caught fire Friday around 2:09 p.m., according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Lost Hills Station.

The fire was caused by arcing wires on a nearby power pole, according to the Lost Hills Sheriff's Station. It was contained by 2:46 p.m. around Agoura Road and Cornell Road.

The same structure caught fire in February 2021, forcing the restaurant to close. At the time, the restaurant had just reopened after COVID-19 closures, The Acorn reported. The fire, which started in the building's attic, did not completely demolish the building but would clearly be a slow fix.

The fire was particularly heartbreaking for the owners because they had just hired new employees, co-founder Antonio Vasquez told The Acorn after the first fire.

“We survived the pandemic almost a year. It hasn’t been an easy ride but we managed to survive because we really love what we do,” Antonio Vasquez said. “This is devastating, emotionally devastating. Not only because material things are lost but because we feel really proud of being able to employ a lot of associates.”