UPDATE @ 12:10 p.m. (Oct. 13):
News Center 7's Jenna Lawson was talking to neighbors and customers Saturday morning after a Chinese restaurant in the strip mall caught fire.
Neighbors are wishing the best for the owners of Dragon City Chinese restaurant on S. Smithville Road.
“I’m heartbroken and devastated that this has happened to them,” said Donna Brooks, Knows Owner. “I wanted to give them a hug and tell them I’m sorry for them and hope they can pick up all the pieces and do this again because they’re wonderful.”
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Fire officials say the fire may have started near the fryer’s.
“I was wondering late last night did they turn off all the burners,” said Rita Allen of Dayton. “I just pray that they can get their business back up and running again.”
No one was injured during the fire, but the cause is still under investigation.
UPDATE @ 1:43 a.m.:
The Dragon City Chinese restaurant in the strip mall on 1048 South Smithville Road has been ruled a total loss after a fire ravaged the roof Saturday morning.
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The incident was reported by a building security guard around midnight after noticing heavy smoke and flames.
Crews had to make forced entry but were able to put the fire out fairly quickly, said Dayton district fire chief Brad Baldwin.
The fire may have originated near the fryers, but remains under investigation, Baldwin said.
FIRST REPORT:
Crews are on the scene of a fire in the roof line of a strip mall in the 1000 block of South Smithville Road in Dayton.
The incident was reported just after midnight and we're hearing firefighters are focusing their efforts on Dragon City restaurant, which is a part of the mall.
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There are no reports of any injuries.
We will update this report as we learn more.
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