Firefighters worked as a team to battle the blaze as flames shot from the roof of the building that housed MaMa Mia’s Pizzeria Restaurant and the Mackinac Bridge Museum in Mackinaw City.

A Mackinaw City building that housed MaMa Mia’s Pizzeria and Restaurant, and the Original Mackinac Bridge Historic Museum and Gift Shop was almost completely destroyed in a Sunday, August 28, blaze that drew firefighters from seven area departments. One firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation, but no other injuries were reported. The fire destroyed many historic artifacts used in the construction of the Mackinac Bridge.

Mackinaw City Fire Chief Fred Thompson Jr. said the following day that he thinks the fire began in an upstairs storage room in the front of the building.

“Employees reported smoke from there,” he said, “but we’re still not sure what started it. There are a number of different devices it could have been. Foul play is not suspected and we’re still waiting on an investigation.”

Robert Smiley, who is co-owner of the business with his wife, Kim, and his father-in-law, J.C. Stilwell, had said Sunday he thought an exhaust fan may have shorted out, but could not be reached for comment Monday. Mr. Stilwell declined comment both days.

The Mackinaw City Fire Department received the first call at about 10 a.m. Eighty firefighters responded from St. Ignace, Mackinac Island, Cheboygan, Inverness Township, Pellston, and Carp Lake, and brought the fire under control at about 2 p.m. Some firefighters, however, stayed on the scene the rest of the afternoon and late into the night

“The fire was only contained to one business,” Chief Thompson said. “It could have spread. A few businesses to the east may have suffered some smoke damage, but I don’t think Coffman’s Hardware (next door, to the west) had any damage. The way the wind blew (westerly) and the quick response of the other departments kept it from spreading.”

No one in the business at the corner of Central Avenue and Henry Street was injured, the building having been vacated before the Mackinaw City Fire Department arrived. One firefighter from Carp Lake was treated at Cheboygan Memorial Hospital and kept overnight for smoke inhalation.

An excavator from Darrow Brothers Construction assisted in removing debris. To avoid unexpected crashes, the large vertical sign facing east and west on Central was taken down later in the day, as was the bell at the top. The sign was in front of the room where the fire started.

MaMa Mia’s was established in the century-old building at the corner of Central Avenue and Henry Street in 1958 and the museum opened in 1979. Mr. Stilwell had worked on the Mackinac Bridge and the museum was full of related artifacts.

“This museum was visited by many tourists throughout the year,” Chief Thompson said. “It contained many irreplaceable items from the building of the bridge.”

Chief Thompson said nearby restaurants provided food and beverages to the firefighters.