Multiple Asian-owned businesses in Edmonds, Washington were damaged by a fire intentionally set by someone, according to local authorities. Photo: South County Fire
A fire that razed through an Edmonds, Washington plaza days ago was ruled an arson by local police, according to Seattle-Pi.
Nobody was hurt in the Saturday (September 11) morning blaze, but all 14 spaces in the Plum Tree Plaza on Highway 99 were damaged. No word from authorities about a possible suspect.
The area was home to multiple Asian restaurants, shops, and other businesses that mainly served local Asian communities and introduce others to their cuisine.
Waroeng Jajanan, an Indonesian market and kitchen, and Qin, a longtime Xi'an noodle house, were hit the hardest by the fire, according to reporters. They are closed indefinitely as the owners figure out the next steps.
“We are physically and emotionally okay,” a representative from Qin told Seattle-Pi. They're waiting for word from their insurance company.
Waroeng Jajanan was more than just a store and restaurant, though. It also "served as a gathering place for people of Indonesian heritage in the area, but also drew hungry fans in search of ingredients or dishes from the country," writers say. The owners even say the store became "a home for those who are homesick."
“This fire not only affected our family, but also all of the Indonesian community in Washington. Everybody is so sad,” the owners said on Monday (September 13).
A friend of the business started a GoFundMe for the owners. Click here to check it out.
The Seattle area has seen multiple arsons and fires decimating popular and historic locations this year, from churches and homes to neighborhood stores.