Half Moon Bay Fire Causes $100K in Damages

HALF MOON BAY, CA- A two-alarm fire caused about $100,000 in damage to two businesses in Half Moon Bay on Tuesday, a Coastside Fire Protection District battalion chief said.

The fire was reported at 10:44 a.m. at 401 Main St. and was under control as of 11:35 a.m., according to dispatchers.

The fire started in the kitchen of the ground-floor It’s Italia restaurant and went up the chimney to the roof. Firefighters confined it mostly to the chimney, Battalion Chief Ari Delay said.

The fire was first reported by a person walking by the restaurant when the person saw flames shooting through the roof, Delay said.

The fire also damaged the Half Moon Bay Inn, Delay said. The inn and the restaurant are in the same building, with the inn on the second floor. Jamie Barber, who along with her husband owns the building with the restaurant and inn, said she had to close the inn because of smoke damage.

No injuries were reported in the fire.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation, Delay said.

About 35 firefighters worked to extinguish the fire. The owner of It’s Italia was not immediately available for comment.

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