RESEDA : Investigators Probe 2 Fires at Same Site
A suspected arson fire--the second blaze in less than 24 hours at Caesar’s family restaurant--gutted the restaurant and damaged an adjacent pizza shop in the same building late Tuesday, authorities said.
The second blaze at Caesar’s, located in the building in the 6700 block of Corbin Street, broke out about 11:50 p.m. and was fully involved when Los Angeles firefighters arrived, said Brian Humphrey, a Fire Department spokesman.
About 35 firefighters battled the blaze for about 20 minutes before it was extinguished, he said.
Firefighters were able to save a vacant sushi restaurant located in the same building, but flames roared from window frames at Caesar’s. Humphrey said the blaze resulted in $350,000 damage to that portion of the building and its contents.
“It went fast,” said Mei-Ling Suahua, a 7-Eleven store owner who called to report the second fire when a customer told her that Caesar’s restaurant was on fire again.
On Wednesday, she pointed to the spot where firefighters tossed burned wood from the first fire that started about 12:50 a.m. Tuesday. That fire resulted in heavy damage to the roof of the building. Investigators estimated the damage at $14,000 from that fire.
Arson investigators declined to comment on either fire. Humphrey said both fires are being investigated.
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