HOULTON — No cause has been determined for a fire Sunday that caused extensive damage to Edrissi’s Restaurant on Bangor Street in Houlton and caused smoke damage to the motel in which the restaurant was located.

Investigator Stewart Jacobs of the State Fire Marshal’s Office was in Houlton Monday. He spent several hours at the site, but said he would have to return Tuesday to continue the investigation.

The fire was discovered at about 8:45 p.m. by a guest at the American Motel. Twenty-four Houlton firefighters with four trucks responded to the alarm and remained at the scene for 2 1/2 hours.

No one was in the restaurant at the time of the fire. The restaurant had been open earlier for Sunday dinner, but closed at 3 p.m.

The fire started in the end of the dining room where sound and lighting equipment was set up. The equipment had last been used several weeks ago for a reunion, according to restaurant owner Larry Richardson.

Although there was extensive smoke and heat damage to the entire restaurant, firefighters were able to confine the fire to the north end of the restaurant where it began.

Portions of the motel received smoke damage, but a lounge located in the basement level received only minor water damage.

Richardson told Houlton Fire Chief Milton Cone that he had returned to the restaurant briefly at about 6 p.m. to make a telephone call, but did not see anything at that time.

Richardson has leased the restaurant from motel owner Don Pankaj since January. Pankaj has owned the motel since last September.

The motel comprises two separate buildings. The restaurant, office, Pankaj’s apartment and 12 units are located in the main building where the fire occurred.

Pankaj said about 30 people were staying at the motel at the time of the fire, 12 of whom were in the main motel building. All guests in the main building were evacuated and there were no injuries.

Some guests checked out after the fire and were given refunds. Others were transferred to units in the uneffected section of the motel, Pankaj said.

He said the building and its contents were insured, but he did not have an estimate of the cost of the damage.