Fire Temporarily Closes Taqueria In Junction Shopping Center

Photo by: BJ Hansen

Sonora, CA — A fire ignited late Wednesday evening at the Taqueria La Esmeralda on Mono Way in the Junction Shopping Center.

Several calls from people witnessing smoke were reported to emergency officials shortly after 10: 30 pm and the flames were extinguished by arriving firefighters. There were no injuries.

Clarke Broadcasting spoke with Francisco Contreras, whose family owns the restaurant, and was on site this morning. He relayed that the fire was in the vent system, specifically the hood, situated up top, which blows out hot air. Thankfully, he says, there was no damage to the roof of the building.

“It could have been much worse,” says Contreras. “We are sad. We hope we are open again soon for our loyal customers.”

Contreras says a claim has been filed with the insurance company, and a Tuolumne County Building inspector was on the scene this morning to check out the damage.

The taqueria will be closed for a while and Contreras says he is hopeful they will be able to reopen in “about a month.”

His family has owned the Taqueria in the Junction shopping center for seven years. They also have locations in Jackson and Nevada City, and will soon be opening a fourth restaurant in Elk Grove.

The family started with a small taco truck in East Sonora over a decade ago before opening the restaurant in The Junction.