VALDOSTA  – As flames engulfed a Valdosta restaurant Monday morning, area businesses stepped up to help Valdosta Fire Department fire fighters as they battled the blaze.

The VFD responded to El Potro Mexican Restuarant on N. St. Augustine Road shortly after 8 a.m. The fire, which destroyed the building, took more than two hours to extinguish

Businesses in the area, including Chick-Fil-A, Best Buy and Sonny’s BBQ assisted firefighters in their efforts by delivering food and water to the emergency services personnel on the scene.

“The Valdosta Fire Department would like to thank everyone that showed support today as they worked diligently to extinguish a fire at the EL Potro restaurant on St. Augustine Rd,” said Tangela Rowe, VFD Senior Community Educator. “The Firefighters greatly appreciated the efforts of Lowndes County Fire and Rescue, Valdosta Police Department, SGMC’s EMS unit as well as local businesses that came out and donated beverages and food to the working men and women. Good deeds should never go unnoticed.”

The VFD would like to recognize the following business and individuals:

Chick-Fil-A and Managaer Kelly Register

Best Buy and Brian Hanks, Stella Henderson and Johnathan Carter

Sonny’s BBQ and Manager Margie Kluess