Story/Photos by LARRY NEFF

A fire which destroyed Joyce's Family Restaurant along Route 209 in the borough of Nesquehoning, Carbon County, Pennsylvania, has been ruled arson.

The fire was discovered by a passing motorist just after 6 A.M. and by the time firefighters arrived on scene, the rear portion of the sprawling one stroy wood frame structure was fully involved in flames.

The fire quickly spread through the roof area and within minutes the entire structure was an inferno.

Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshall Dan Balliet investigated the ruins and ruled the fire arson but did not provide an exact cause or describe how the fire was set.

The owner of the building Ahmad Ameen of Luzerne county said he owned the building for the last 3 1/2 years and he was leasing it to a couple for the past year. He added he did not have insurance on the structure.