UPDATE – 9:46 a.m.
According to a city of Buda press release, authorities remained on scene at Casa Alde in Buda until 4:37 a.m. Sunday. Buda Fire crews completed extensive overhaul operations as the fire in the restaurant burnt through the pier and beam floor.
Per the release, portions of the wood floor in Casa Alde had to be removed to further extinguish the fire. The building is considered to be a total loss, according to officials. Businesses adjacent to Casa Alde, which include a Farmers Insurance office and Mike's Barber Shop, suffered "mild" smoke damage. A cause has not been determined and is under investigation.
A gofundme page has been set up by members of the community to assist the Alcala family, who own Casa Alde. The link to the page can be found here.
EARLIER
No one was injured late Saturday after fire tore through iconic downtown Buda restaurant Helen’s Casa Alde, causing significant interior damage.
According to officials, emergency crews were dispatched to the scene, located in the 100 block of north Main Street in Buda, around 11:30 p.m. Saturday. When crews arrived, the interior of Casa Alde was engulfed in flames.
Kyle Taylor, Kyle Fire Department chief, said the fire did not spread beyond the part of the structure that houses Casa Alde. The fire is believed to have originated in the kitchen of the restaurant before eventually going through the roof of the building, according to preliminary information from city of Buda officials.
Two businesses adjacent to the restaurant suffered smoke damage of varying degrees.
Taylor said the damage inside of Casa Alde was extensive; an exact estimate of damages is unknown at this time. According to Buda officials, the restaurant is a "total loss." No one was inside of Casa Alde at the time of the fire.
A cause has not been determined at this time. The Hays County Fire Marshal’s office is investigating.
Helen's Casa Alde opened in 1980 and is Buda's first Mexican food restaurant.
This story is developing. We will provide additional details when they become available.
