Damage caused by an electrical fire Tuesday evening at Otter Creek East Bakery and Deli in East Middlebury will knock the eatery out of business for an indeterminate amount of time. 

The Middlebury Fire Department was called to the scene on Ossie Road, between Routes 7 and 116, at 5:15 p.m. on Aug. 19 after receiving a call from a neighbor who noticed smoke coming from the building. Fire departments from Salisbury and Bristol came to offer assistance, along with Middlebury Regional EMS.

The blaze began in the employees-only section of the building, and the exact cause is still under investigation. Middlebury Fire Chief David Shaw said the crew faced large amounts of heavy black smoke and high heat but managed to fully extinguish the fire in 45 minutes. Bakery and deli staff had already left for the day, and no responders were injured.

Owner Ned Horton on Wednesday said the building had lost power and suffered water damage. The bakery and deli will remain closed indefinitely while repairs are made and the cause of the fire is determined.

Despite the setback in his business, Horton expressed gratitude for the fire department’s quick response and the support from the community, especially while he was out-of-state in Maine.