The Boston Fire Department announced it has determined an electrical short circuit was to blame for a four-alarm fire in a commercial block on Peterborough Street in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood that destroyed several restaurants and businesses.

“The Boston Fire Investigation Unit has determined the cause … to be an unspecified electrical short circuit,” said Steve MacDonald, a Boston Fire Department Spokesman, in a statement. “This was based on interviews with the first arriving firefighters, physical evidence, burn patterns and other factors.”

The fire started in the ceiling of Thornton’s Fenway Grille, what was a popular college hangout on the corner of the block.

This fire destroyed Thornton’s, Rod-Dee Thai Cuisine, El Pelon Taqueria, Greek Isles, Sorrento’s and Umi Japanese restaurants. A dry cleaner, Bon Cleaners, was also burned to the ground.

The Jan. 6 fire caused $5 million in damage.

About The Author

John Guilfoil is the editor-in-chief of Blast: Boston's Online Magazine and the Blast Magazine Network. He can be reached at [email protected]. Tweet @johnguilfoil.

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