Early-morning blaze damages kitchen at I Love Country Cafe
Advertiser Staff
An early-morning fire that caused significant damage to the kitchen of the I Love Country Cafe restaurant on Piikoi Street has been classified as an accident.
Fire Capt. Terry Seelig said in an email that food left on a lit burner started the fire, which spread throughout the kitchen.
The restaurant was closed and unoccupied at the time. There were no injuries.
The fire caused significant damage to the kitchen and smoke damage to the rest of the eatery and the adjacent Payless Shoe Source outlet.
A fire investigator estimated damages to the restaurant at $200,000.
Richard Chan, who owns I Love Country Cafe, said the kitchen was a total loss and that the restaurant likely will be closed for two to three months.
Firefighters were dispatched to the blaze at 2:08 a.m. They had the fire under control by 2:33 and extinguished at 3:02.
HFD sent about 35 firefighters, five engines, two ladders and a battalion chief to the fire.