Naperville bar fire started outside, 'worked its way in'
Downtown Naperville bar Rizzo's remains closed as the investigation continues into the cause of a Sunday morning fire that caused roughly $200,000 in damage.
Naperville Fire Marshal Scott Scheller said the blaze started in the southwest corner of the building at 6 W. Jefferson Ave., either on the roof or the back porch.
Scheller said the fire, reported at 6:13 a.m., damaged the second-floor bathrooms and caused minor smoke and water damage throughout the second floor and minor water damage on the first floor. The building remains uninhabitable.
“Due to the extent of the damage, we ruled out the fire starting on the inside,” Scheller said. “It was definitely an outside fire that worked its way in a little bit.”
The fire does not appear suspicious, but its cause has not been determined. Investigators will continue ruling out potential causes, such as heating, ventilation and air-conditioning equipment, as they work to determine what sparked it.
The blaze was the first of three structure fires in Naperville on Sunday, where a balcony of a townhouse and a detached garage of a single-family house also caught fire.
It took place less than two months after Rizzo's completed renovations to the second floor to improve safety and reduce crowding.
Owner Chuck Rizzo did not return calls Monday seeking comment.