An Oct. 5 fire changed the streetscape of downtown 91Ô­´´ City, with the loss of the Viva Mexico restaurant.

The fire was first reported around 6:15 a.m., and City firefighters quickly arrived on scene.

"When we got into the building, it was difficult to find a source for the fire," 91Ô­´´ City fire chief Scott Kennedy told the 91Ô­´´ Advance Times after the blaze was extinguished.

Shortly after 7 a.m., Township fire crews arrived to help, and in total 10 firefighting vehicles and 40 firefighters from both the City and the Township took part in extinguishing the blaze.

Given the age of the building and concerns about the possibility of asbestos or other contaminants in the building, residents in the area were warned by the fire department to stay inside or wear masks.

"If you were anywhere around that, you should have been wearing an an N95 mask," Kennedy remarked.

Although the firefighters managed to keep the fire from spreading to the tightly-packed buildings on either side in the one-way section of Fraser Highway, the building itself was a total loss.

In addition to the restaurant on the ground floor, the building housed a physiotherapist, a photographer, and an animal trainer, among others.

Buildings nearby, including Constant Collectibles, suffered smoke and water damage, with a $4,000 Star Wars wampa replica at the hobby store "pretty much a write off now," according to owner Shane Constantinescu.

Small businesses impacted by the fire saw an outpouring of support from the community, and Viva Mexico's owners posted online messages promising the restaurant would return.

The cause of the fire was not determined, but was likely accidental, according to Kennedy.

The building had been a part of 91Ô­´´ for as long as many residents could remember. It was built in 1968 and has hosted a variety of tenants, including local MLA Bob McLelland, whose office was upstairs in the 1970s.

Also in the early 1970s, the Old Country Inn started on the ground floor, and operated there for many years. That was replaced by some Swiss-themed restaurants including Chalet Suisse, and then in 1992, Choo Choo's Restaurant, with its distinctive railway-themed decor.

Viva Mexico moved in nine years ago from its previous, smaller location down the street.

The building has also hosted a driving school, realtors, the Downtown 91Ô­´´ Business Association offices, and even a private investigator over the years.