UPDATE: Landmark Clayton eatery Mama G's destroyed by fire

CLAYTON - Investigators say the cause of a fire that destroyed a landmark Clayton eatery Monday morning remains undetermined.

The investigation in the fire at Mama G's Italian Restaurant will continue once heavy equipment arrives later this week to remove large sections of the roof of the 5,000-square-foot building.

Firefighters were called to the restaurant at 777 Highway 441, just inside the Clayton city limits, just before 8 a.m. after a passing police officer noticed the fire.

Rabun County Fire Chief Daniel Johnson provided details.

"The fire came in at 7:52 this morning," Johnson said. "I arrived on secene about two minutes later - me and Engine 1 and Tanker 1 - and the whole roof was involved."

Firefighters worked to bring the fire under control by about 8:30 a.m., but remained on the scene doing overhaul and extinguishing hot spots until 2:23 p.m.

"It's all gone," Johnson said. "It's there, but it's not usable."

The fire displaced the restaurant's 25-35 employees. Some of those are covered by insurance, but others who are contract employees are not included.

The owners of Mama G's are establishing a fund at Rabun County Bank to help their employees who need it.

Owner Krystyna Gaglio, affectionately known as "Mama G" in the restaurant and the community, said the restaurant was planning to close Monday night to host a buffet for the Rabun County Wildcats Fifth Quarter.

No one was at the restaurant at the time the fire was discovered.

Standing in front of the business her family started in 1999 on Duvall Street before moving it to its current location, Gaglio reflected on the struggles and losses her family has faced in the past few years.

Gaglio said she lost her husband, 63, six years ago. Then, two years ago, she lost her 41-year-old daughter.

Johnson said four engine companies and about 40 personnel, along with support vehicles, were on scene battling the fire, including Company 1, Company 5, Company 6 and Company 12.

U.S. Highway 441, or portions of it, were closed for two hours during the firefighting effort.

Smoke pours from Mama G's Italian Restaurant around 8 a.m. Monday.

Utility crews arrive on scene of the fire at Mama G's Italian Restaurant in Clayton Monday morning.

This photograph taken by Krista Neely shows the early part of the fire at Mama G's Italian Restaurant.

Krystyna Gaglio, known as "Mama G", talks with employees behind the restaurant Monday afternoon.

"Mama G" Krystyna Gaglio walks around the building that has been her family's restaurant for the past decade.

At least part of Highway 441 in Clayton was closed for two hours Monday morning as firefighters worked to extinguish a fire at Mama G's Italian Restaurant.

Rabun County firefighters from four engine companies worked to extinguish the fire at Mama G's Italian Restaurant Monday morning.

Rabun County firefighters work to extinguish hot spots in the collapsed structure.

Firefighters work to extinguish a hot spot on the back of Mama G's Italian Restaurant Monday morning.

About 40 Rabun County firefighters worked to extinguish the fire at Mama G's in Clayton Monday.

Rabun County firefighters prepare to roll hoses after concluding the active firefighting at Mama G's.

While the front of the building is still standing, Mama G's Italian Restaurant was destroyed and an adjacent billboard for the restaurant was damaged in Monday morning's fire.

Highway 441 in Clayton was disrupted for about two hours while firefighters battled the fire at Mama G's Monday morning.

Rabun County tankers on the south end of Mama G's ran a shuttle operation across Highway 441 to avoid having to completely shut down traffic with a supply hose. Firefighters on the north end of the building were supplied with utilized a hydrant adjacent to the property.

The billboard over Mama G's Italian Restaurant was damaged in Monday morning's fire.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2015/10/343498/restaurant-burning-south-of-clayton