EVERETT — Everett arson detectives are investigating the $2 million fire that destroyed Emory’s, the landmark restaurant on the shores of Silver Lake.
“That doesn’t mean it’s an arson,” Everett police Sgt. Robert Goetz said.
The investigation by police is routine after fires that cause significant damage, he said.
Officials expect to announce next week whether there’s evidence that the fire early Monday was intentionally set.
Fire investigators often collect evidence, including fragments of wood, building materials and ash, to have tested in laboratories to detect accelerants. The materials deteriorate rapidly after a fire and investigators often collect them as soon as possible, Goetz said.
Speculation has swirled over the cause of the Emory’s fire, which left 50 employees jobless. The day after the fire, the restaurant’s owner, Emory Cole, said he feared the arsonist in Seattle’s Greenwood neighborhood may have targeted his businesses in Snohomish County.
Seattle police on Friday made an arrest in the Greenwood fires. There’s no indication the Everett fire is connected.
Everett city spokeswoman Kate Reardon, who has been speaking on behalf of the fire department, has refused to release details about the investigation.
On Friday she said the fire remains under investigation and the cause hasn’t been determined.
Cole hasn’t said whether he plans to rebuild. The restaurant’s Web site said the business is closed indefinitely.
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