Feds probing Lynnwood fire

LYNNWOOD – Rick Berlin sat in a lawn chair outside The Pantry Cafe on Wednesday, watching as fire investigators combed through his restaurant.

Berlin greeted customers and employees from his chair, offering them hugs and encouragement.

“Life continues. I have to set the pace” for my employees, Berlin said. “Being angry or sad or negative won’t accomplish a thing.”

The cafe was severely damaged early Wednesday morning when a two-alarm fire ripped through a strip mall at 14005 Highway 99.

The New Seoul Korean Restaurant and a vacant bookstore also were heavily damaged in the blaze, which caused at least $500,000 in damage.

Investigators with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Snohomish County Fire Marshal’s Office went through the charred businesses most of Wednesday. Investigators are still determining what caused the fire, which started in a back corner of the Korean restaurant.

They would not say if it was suspicious. “It hasn’t been ruled out, but it is still under investigation,” said Snohomish County Fire District 1 spokeswoman Leslie Hynes.

“With all this talk about arsons, it has scared us,” said Tom McAllees, who owns One-Eyed Jack’s Roadhouse, a neighboring business.

McAllees has made a habit of walking around his business before leaving for the night since a string of arsons hit Everett and north Seattle this summer.

“I think we’re all on edge,” he said.

A passerby spotted the fire about 12:40 a.m. and ran into the bar. Two tavern patrons grabbed fire extinguishers and attempted to put out the blaze. They suffered minor smoke inhalation.

Flames were shooting from the roof of the restaurant and bookstore when firefighters arrived. The roof and back wall eventually collapsed.

Firefighters from Districts 1 and 7, Lynnwood, Everett and Edmonds battled the fire for about 90 minutes before bringing it under control. They were able to keep the fire from spreading to three businesses in the north end of the strip mall.

A gas station was cleared to open Wednesday afternoon, and two restaurants damaged by water were expected to reopen in a couple of days.

All the businesses were insured, Hynes said.

Berlin isn’t sure when he will reopen his cafe and bar.

“We will rebuild. When we reopen, we’ll be bigger and better than ever,” he said.

Berlin and his brother bought the business about a year ago.

The cafe has been around for more than a decade, and for years was located just north of its current location, Berlin said.

“I’ve been in the restaurant business a long time. This is the first time I’ve owned my own. It was a dream of ours,” he said.

Known for its hearty breakfasts and home-style dinners, the cafe has a large following of regulars, Berlin said.

“We’re all pretty close-knit,” he said. “We have people who come in three times a day.”

Berlin reassured his 20 employees that he would have their paychecks ready on Friday.

McAllees organized a car wash for this weekend to help those employees who are now out of work.

“We take care of each other around here,” McAllees said.