By SANDY McGEE

CUMBERLAND — The income source for two businesses literally went up in smoke Tuesday after dual suspicious fires broke out within minutes of each other. No injuries were reported.

Firefighters were first called to Roberta’s Hair and Nail Salon,  at 1150 Mendon Road, at 11:38 p.m. on Tuesday. A Cumberland police officer patrolling the area smelled smoke in the vicinity and noticed that the two-story building was on fire, according to John Walsh, chief of the Cumberland Fire District.
“From (the officer’s) viewpoint, smoke was pouring out of the building. When they (firefighters) got there, they had heavy fire and heavy heat. There were also exploding aerosol cans.”
While firefighters were still working to control the first blaze, a second fire was reported at 11:47 p.m. just down the street at Everybody’s Favorite Family Restaurant, located at 1370 Mendon Road.
Both businesses in the Ashton area of town were closed at the time of the fire. No one was injured in either incident.
While the fires’ causes and origins are unknown at this time, police are calling both of them suspicious.
“We are deeming them suspicious because of their closeness in time and location to each other,” said Cumberland Deputy Chief of Police Michael Kinch. “I believe anyone would say that both the timing and location is unusual.”
The investigation is ongoing and under the direction of the Cumberland Police Department and the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
While the blaze at the restaurant was put out within minutes, the fire at the salon took more than an hour to extinguish.
The second fire at Everybody’s Favorite Family Restaurant was reported by a neighbor, who saw smoke coming from the building and phoned for help.
“If it wasn’t for his call, who knows how bad it would have got,” said the restaurant’s co-owner, Donald Rondeau. “That was our Christmas present, him calling the fire department.”
Rondeau shares ownership of the Mendon Road eatery with his brother, Larry Rondeau. The two brothers just celebrated their 12th anniversary of owning and operating the restaurant.
While fire officials are still investigating the restaurant’s fire, Donald Rondeau said that he believes it may have been set by vandals. After the blaze, the restaurant’s co-owner said he discovered that a side window was “busted in” and that the place was trashed.
“They, whoever they are, had fun,” Rondeau said. “They threw pancake mix all over the place. French toast mix, hash, egg salad. You name it, they threw it.”
Police have not confirmed at this time if either blaze was set by an individual.
“There is a lot of smoke damage and ruined food,” Rondeau said. “All the food has to get thrown out now. It’s going to put us out of business for who knows how long.”
A sign on the restaurant’s door Wednesday morning read “Closed due to fire.”
“It’s bad enough that we’re shut down, but the way the economy is slowing down,” said Rondeau while shaking his head in disbelief. “It’s unbelievable. Things are scary enough with the economy. Being self-employed, I can’t go down to the unemployment office. We’re all out of work now.”
Everybody’s Favorite Restaurant is the only source of income for Rondeau and his brother. The restaurant employed a staff of about 10 people.
Just down the street, another owner was trying to make sense of losing her business.
“It’s devastating,” said Roberta Loureiro, hairstylist and owner of  Roberta’s Hair and Nail Salon. “At this time of year, with this economy, it’s bad.”
Located across the street from a store decked in holiday wreaths and next door to a gas station, Roberta’s Hair and Nail Salon was surrounded by fire department vehicles and police cruisers on Wednesday.
The salon received more damage than the restaurant, with officials calling the building completely destroyed.
“It’s a total loss,” Kinch said. “There is structural damage. The second building had far less damage.”
While the land and property is owned by Ray Hamel, Loureiro owned the business for the past 15½ years. The hair and nail salon employed a staff of two people.
Loureiro said she has received calls from several community members, who have offered their help in this time of need.
“A lot of people have called me,” she said. “We will try and find somewhere else (to reopen). It wasn’t just a business, it was a family here.”
Those interested in helping Loureiro can call her at (401) 334-5747.
Responding to Tuesday’s dual blazes were personnel from all fire districts in town, as well as the Albion, Quinnville and Saylesville Fire Departments. Fire personnel from surrounding areas, including Pawtucket, also responded.
“We had a lot of response,” Walsh said. “This was an example of all these districts working together in Cumberland.”