LYNNWOOD — A fire broke out at about 7 p.m. Christmas in the kitchen of Happy Teriyaki in Lynnwood.
According to Lynnwood’s acting fire marshal Leroy McNulty, a compressor that was beneath a freezer unit overheated and started the fire at the restaurant, which was empty and closed at the time in the 19400 block of 44th Avenue W.
Firefighters responded to a fire alarm call and said there was a lot of smoke visible from outside of the restaurant as they arrived.
The restaurant had been taken over by new management just three months ago, according Sean Park, a friend of the owner, Hyoung Chae.
People who were in the nearby Matsu Sushi restaurant did have to be evacuated.
While the fire was contained to the one unit of the strip mall, neighboring Lover’s Package and Taquitos Talucas did have some smoke in their stores.
McNulty said the fire was totally accidental and that the owner hadn’t yet gotten insurance coverage.
According to McNulty the restaurant has about $10,000 damage and will be closed for about two weeks.
“We’re trying to get them opened back up as soon as possible so they can get their business up and running again,” he said.
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