A McDonalds Restaurant at 1271 Encinitas Boulevard in Encinitas was nearly destroyed by fire Thursday night.
Firefighters were called to the scene just before 9 pm. Witnesses said they heard an explosion just before the fire took off. Police and Firefighters had accounted for all employees and customers by late Thursday night. There were no injuries reported.
Firefighters speculated that a gas line might have fueled the fire or somehow been linked to the explosion. But there was no confirmation of the cause late Thursday night.
Damage was estimated at between $250,00 and $300,000.
