Olive Garden, located on Pecanland Mall Drive, was destroyed in an electrical fire around 11:30 a.m. on Jan. 21.

The building that went up in flames

The restaurant was open for lunch at the time, but employees and patrons were safely evacuated. No injuries have been reported.

According to KNOE 8 News, two fires occurred that morning. The first appeared outside in the back and the second fire occurred inside roughly 20 minutes later.

Monroe Fire Chief Terry Williams confirmed that the second fire was electrical and is not sure if the first fire is related.

Williams believes that the fire was caused by water getting into the building’s electrical panel. The fire has left employees out of a job.

Olive Garden officials offered their condolences and said they definitely plan to rebuild it as soon as possible and that current team members will be welcomed back.

The student who is now out of work

Amber Dickson, a junior communications major, began waitressing at the Olive Garden back in October. Dickson was not there at the time the fire started, but arrived on the scene after she heard the news.

“I just came up there and supported my coworkers and kept looking at the fire spreading,” Dickson said.

As the fire went on, Dickson began thinking about the people who have worked at the Olive Garden for 25 years, since the restaurant opened.

“Our slogan is ‘when you’re here, you’re with family’ and even though I fussed and argued with my coworkers, we had a bond,” Dickson said.

But Dickson is very optimistic about her employment options. As a college student who is now out of work, she is grateful that the company she works for cares enough about its employees to help them get back on their feet.

“Darden, our mother company that also owns Red Lobster and Long Johns, they are going to see what they can do to get us back employed and get smooth sailing. I know I need a job and I was attached to that place,” Dickson said.

The man who witnessed everything

Andrew Sistrunk, a consultant at the Men’s Warehouse next door to the Olive Garden, was one of the first on the scene after being alerted of the fire.

He grabbed a fire extinguisher in hopes to help contain the first fire.

“We came back inside…called 911 and they pulled up and it was already out so we figured it was done. About twenty minutes later we heard a bunch of popping…walked outside and it was on fire again. It just got worse and went crazy,” Sistrunk said.

After the second fire began, all he could do was watch as flames consumed the building.

The fire had been completely extinguished by 5 p.m.