Montville — The cause of a fire that destroyed several businesses at a strip mall at 430 Chapel Hill Road remains under investigation.

Montville police Det. David Radford said investigators are not prepared to say what caused the early Tuesday morning fire that destroyed six out of the 12 businesses, including a Chinese restaurant, a pizzeria and a dog grooming business.

The fire was reported at 1:12 a.m. The fire first started at the Oakdale Cafe, a bar, and spread to adjacent businesses.

The bar was not open to the public at the time of the fire because it was awaiting approval of its request for a liquor license.

Dottie Yaworski, whose son owns the bar, told a reporter Tuesday that she had no idea what could have caused the fire since “nothing was plugged in and no work was done there recently.”

Nine tanker trucks from area towns brought water to the scene from Oxoboxo Lake. Two ladder trucks along with five hand lines were used to fight the blaze.

Radford said the police detective unit along with town and state fire marshals are assisting in the investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call Radford or Det.Thomas Occhialini at (860) 848-7510.