El Sancho Taco Shop East was severely damaged by fire early Thursday morning, according to a news release from Bend Fire & Rescue.

The blaze caused more than $250,000 in losses, according to preliminary estimates.

The fire began on the west side of the building at 335 NE Dekalb Ave. in the outdoor kitchen area around 1 a.m., then spread into the attic, said Fire Inspector Melissa Steele.

Witnesses first reported the blaze after seeing flames on the west side of the building, and fire crews were able to extinguish the fire within 30 minutes of arriving on the scene, fire officials said.

The ambient heat from the fire was enough that it damaged several cars at the neighboring dealership, Auto Kings. Owner Jeffrey Eoler said he could not say yet how much was lost in damages.

“Cars are replaceable, people aren’t,” he said. “We’re glad no one was hurt, and El Sancho is such a fantastic neighbor. Our hearts hurt for them. They are really good people (and) our cars are the least of our worries right now. We just hope they can get back up.”

The cause of the fire was ruled accidental, sparked by improperly disposed ashes from outdoor cooking operations.

El Sancho also has a location on Galveston Avenue and a food truck located at Crux Fermentation Project in Bend. The Dekalb Avenue location was the longtime home of El Burrito restaurant before El Sancho opened there.