A fire that destroyed a buffet restaurant in Tacoma and left in ruins a 14-year family business may have been intentionally set, Tacoma fire investigators said Wednesday.
Firefighters got the call just after 11 p.m. Tuesday of fire burning in the back of the Great Wall Buffet along S. Hosmer Street, according to Battalion Chief Dave McRoberts with Tacoma Fire. "Firefighters cut some holes in the side and in the front," said witness Melissa Cook. "Some flames started coming out of it, and then all of a sudden the whole roof caught fire. It was crazy."
Firefighters broke into the building and did a quick search to see if anyone was trapped inside, but didn't find anyone. Moments later, firefighters noticed the roof's structural integrity was at risk.
"When the roof started to look unstable we pulled people out," McRoberts said. "Shortly after, the roof collapsed."
Luckily no one was injured.