Albany

The Hamilton Street location of El Mariachi will be closed "for a while" after an early-morning fire damaged the popular Mexican restaurant Saturday.

Albany Fire Department Battalion Chief Bill Hummel said no one was injured in the blaze, which was believed to have started by a heater located over the doorway.

Firefighters were called to the restaurant at 289 Hamilton St, at 2:50 a.m. and found the fire in the doorway.

Hummel said the building's sprinkler system had kept the fire in check, although it had spread slightly to the first floor ceiling and second floor in the same general area.

Firefighters were able to put the fire out within 15 minutes using hand hoses.

Hummel said there was "modest" smoke damage, and that because of health codes, the restaurant would have to be shut down "for a while" as all remaining food was is thrown out, and the building is brought back up to code.

El Mariachi's other location at 144 Washington Ave. in Albany remains open.

— Larry Rulison