Persistent fire destroys three businesses, forces evacuations

MOUNT VERNON, Wash. — A fire gutted a building with three businesses inside and kept firefighters busy into the early hours of the morning.

No one was hurt in the fire, but it did destroy Taste of India, Super Pho and Teriyaki, and All City Bail Bonds-- all located in the same building that burned.  A large apartment complex across the street from the businesses was evacuated for several hours because of the billowing smoke.

“I saw flames shooting out of a window,” said one evacuated man, while holding his cat.

An owner with All City Bail Bonds said he didn’t know how he was going to run his business, but said he will continue to work out of a car if he had too.

Investigators still do not know how the fire started.  Firefighters seemed to have it under control at about 9:30 p.m. and people were let back into their homes.

However, by 11 p.m. it had flared back up.  Flames came shooting out of the roof, and firefighters scrambled to get things under control again.

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