Fire shuts down Portales restaurant

A Portales restaurant caught fire early Sunday morning, forcing its closure due to smoke damage.

K&H Cocina posted on its Facebook page that reopening will be “a long process due to the extensive smoke damage and the clean up that will need to be done.”

Fire Chief T.J. Cathey said firefighters were called to the scene at 4:18 a.m. Sunday and arrived about two minutes later. Firefighters left the scene just after 6:30 a.m., Cathey said.

The restaurant is located at 1126 W. 22nd St. across from McDonald’s.

The fire began in the back half of the restaurant near the kitchen area, Cathey said. The state fire marshal has been called in to investigate the cause.

The restaurant Facebook post thanked firefighters and police “for their extensive hours of work they did to save the restaurant. If it hadn’t been caught when it was no telling what we would have been facing. Thank you Jesus it was stopped when it was.”