Flames engulf Oceano restaurant in devastating overnight fire: ‘It was bad’

Stephanie Zappelli, John Lynch

A Mexican restaurant in Oceano was devastated by a fire early Friday morning, according to the Five Cities Fire Authority.

Rosalba Rodriguez, owner of Los Tamales Poblanos Mexican Food at 1773 Front St., said and no one was in the building at the time of the fire. There were no injuries.

She was at the scene Friday morning, looking over the blackened shell of her business.

Rodriguez, who has owned and operated the restaurant for the past 16 years, said she has insurance but is unsure whether the destruction would be covered.

Los Tamales Poblanos Mexican Food owner Rosalba Rodriguez, left, stands with Antonio Hernandez the morning after a fire destroyed the restaurant. 5 Cities Fire Authority and Cal Fire extinguished the fire on Front Street in Oceano early Friday morning, May 12, 2023.
Los Tamales Poblanos Mexican Food owner Rosalba Rodriguez, left, stands with Antonio Hernandez the morning after a fire destroyed the restaurant. 5 Cities Fire Authority and Cal Fire extinguished the fire on Front Street in Oceano early Friday morning, May 12, 2023.

The Five Cities Fire Authority arrived on the scene at 1:30 a.m. on Friday to find the restaurant fully engulfed in flames.

“It was bad,” Five Cities Fire Authority Chief Steve Lieberman said.

The fire threatened to spread to a home behind the restaurant, along with other buildings “tightly placed all around,” Lieberman said.

People in the surrounding buildings had already evacuated themselves when the Fire Department arrived, he said.

“The biggest stressor was the active fire in the restaurant, but more importantly the buildings that were under threat around it,” Lieberman said.

Lieberman couldn’t confirm if the fire spread past the restaurant.

When firefighters arrived on the scene, the flames were so severe that they couldn’t enter the building. The team took a “defense attack,” using a massive hose to douse the flames in the restaurant and also the surrounding buildings to prevent them from catching fire, too.

Firefighters work to extinguish a blaze Los Tamales Poblanos Mexican Food on Front Street in Oceano early Friday morning May 12, 2023.
Firefighters work to extinguish a blaze Los Tamales Poblanos Mexican Food on Front Street in Oceano early Friday morning May 12, 2023.

Within 90 minutes, the firefighters had reduced the blaze and were able to scale down their response, Lieberman said.

Cal Fire, the SLO City Fire Department, the SLO County Sheriff’s Office, the Oceano CSD Utilities Division and even an ambulance also responded to the scene.

Firefighters work to extinguish a blaze Los Tamales Poblanos Mexican Food on Front Street in Oceano early Friday morning May 12, 2023.
Firefighters work to extinguish a blaze Los Tamales Poblanos Mexican Food on Front Street in Oceano early Friday morning May 12, 2023.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Jami Wozniak, a school counselor at Judkins Middle School, was at the restaurant Friday morning and said she is coordinating relief efforts for the family, focusing on grocery and gas gift cards.

Those who want to contribute can call 805-474-3600.

Jami Wozniak, left, school counselor at Judkins Middle School, gives a hug to Antonio Hernandez, whose family lost their Oceano restaurant to an early-morning fire on Friday, May 12, 2023. She was coordinating relief efforts, and those who want to contribute can call 805-474-3600.
Jami Wozniak, left, school counselor at Judkins Middle School, gives a hug to Antonio Hernandez, whose family lost their Oceano restaurant to an early-morning fire on Friday, May 12, 2023. She was coordinating relief efforts, and those who want to contribute can call 805-474-3600.

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