Attleboro firefighters knocked down a two-alarm fire that tore through a local restaurant early Saturday morning, ultimately forcing a defensive attack after part of the roof collapsed. At about 1:31 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 9, firefighters were dispatched to El Buen Sazon, located at 147 Pine St., for reports of a structure fire.

Crews arrived to find heavy fire and thick smoke pouring from the rear of the building. A working fire assignment was struck, and interior crews advanced inside under extreme heat and near-zero visibility. Firefighters also cut ventilation holes in the roof to relieve the intense heat and smoke conditions.

By 2:05 a.m., incident command observed the restaurant’s roof beginning to sag. Moments later, a section of the roof gave way, prompting an immediate evacuation. All interior crews were able to exit safely without injuries.

With conditions too dangerous to continue interior operations, the strategy shifted to a defensive, exterior attack. Firefighters remained on scene until approximately 5:37 a.m. to fully extinguish hot spots and secure the scene. The building is considered a total loss.

“This was an extremely challenging fire,” said District Chief Michael Maitland, who served as incident commander. “The layout of the restaurant was anything but standard, which made reaching the heart of the fire especially difficult. Our crews worked relentlessly under very dangerous conditions to bring this fire under control.”

Mutual aid was provided on scene and for station coverage by the Norton, North Attleborough, Rehoboth, and Pawtucket Fire Departments.

The cause of the fire does not appear suspicious but remains under investigation by the Attleboro Fire Investigation Unit.