Arson at restaurant worries others at shopping center

A fire intentionally set early Monday morning at a Chinese restaurant in Windward City Shopping Center has other business owners there worried about overnight security.

Tim Tran, owner of Little Saigon, three doors down from Joyful Garden Fine Asian Cuisine where the fire was set, said, "I feel a little bit unsafe. … I think the shopping center should beef up security."

Police opened an arson investigation after firefighters discovered several gas cans at the scene of the fire, which was reported at 1:20 a.m. Monday. A sprinkler system put out the blaze before firefighters arrived, said spokesman fire Capt. James Todd.

Todd said there was a strong smell of gasoline inside the restaurant. The fire began in the dining room and kitchen, police said.

Fire Capt. Terry Seelig said all of the sprinklers were activated at once, indicating a very quick flash fire characteristic of accelerant use.

"That meant the whole room got hot, not from ordinary fire buildup," he said, which explains why there was little charring and the damage was not extensive.

Damage was estimated at $20,000 to the contents and $20,000 to the building. The restaurant’s owner was in China on Monday and is returning today, said his daughter, who declined to give her name. Police told her there was forced entry.

Tran said he would like the shopping center management to provide overnight security and install security cameras.

"Lately we see security problems," he said. Vandals chopped down a coconut tree at the center, and people are "hanging out" after hours, he said.

Securitas security guards on duty Monday said they staff the shopping center until 10 p.m., but most of the incidents occur at night, citing a fight reported by people who live nearby and an attempted burglary at KFC.

A KFC manager said burglars tried to steal chicken by attempting to remove hingers from a freezer.

"It’s scary," said Krissy Wannomae, whose mother owns KJ’s Local Grindz, saying the fire could have spread because "we’re all connected."

When she opened the restaurant, "it was reeking of gas," and she had to wipe soot from the counters. She said KJ’s has its own surveillance system.

AMH Inc., which manages Windward City, did not return calls to the Star-Advertiser.

Star-Advertiser reporter Gregg Kakesako contributed to this report.