Eastern and Western Salisbury firefighters responded to an automatic fire alarm just before 4 a.m. Nov. 30 at La Cabanita restaurant, 2720 S. Pike Ave., in the eastern portion of Salisbury Township.

Eastern Salisbury Fire Chief Ian Dodson was the first fire officer on scene and found smoke coming out of doors and windows.

Dodson immediately upgraded the alarm to a commercial structure fire, asking the Lehigh County 911 Center to call out additional resources, including several water tanker trucks, from other Lehigh and Northampton area mutual aid fire companies.

An engine from Eastern Salisbury Fire Department was the first-arriving apparatus and the engine crew began searching the building for the source of the fire.

After a brief search, the fire was located in the basement of the building. Eastern Salisbury Fire Department Capt. Dennis Takacs Jr. was able to make an initial stop with a pressurized water extinguisher can.

The next arriving crews deployed an attack line through the rear basement door. Additional crews searched the remaining parts of the building for fire and possible victims.

Crews were on the scene for about three hours doing fire scene “overhaul.”

Overhauling in the fire service is the thorough searching of a fire scene to determine that no hidden fire, or other risks, remain to harm firefighters or others.

No injuries were reported and the scene was turned over to the Salisbury Township fire marshal’s office for investigation.

Crews from Emmaus, Lower Saucon, Upper Saucon and Lower Milford fire companies responded to the mutual aid call, as well as a rapid intervention team from Lower Macungie Fire Company.

Rapid Intervention Teams are dispatched to active fire scenes with no firefighting responsibilities. They are on hand solely to respond should a firefighter be trapped or otherwise need immediate rescue assistance.

St. Luke’s University Hospital EMS ambulance personnel and Salisbury Township police were also on scene.

Eastern Salisbury fire police units controlled access to the location.

A news release from the Salisbury Township Police Department added the following information: “The fire has been ruled accidental. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture was notified to inspect the restaurant prior to reopening.”