Fire damages NARA Express
Aug. 26—LENOIR — The cause of a fire that gutted a Lenoir restaurant remains under investigation, but early findings suggest it was accidental, officials say.
Tuesday night's (Aug. 23) blaze at NARA Express on Wllkesboro Boulevard caused about $100,00 in damages, $60,000 for property and $40,000 in contents. Lenoir firefighters responded to the 9:50 p.m. blaze and found fire and smoke coming from the building's roof at the exhaust fan, according to Chief Ken Haire.
The origin of the fire appears to be in the kitchen. No one was inside the Japanese restaurant at the time as the establishment closed at 9 p.m., Haire said.
It took about 30 minutes for firefighters to get the blaze under control, but three hours on the scene. Most of the damages are confined to the interior of the building. Other than the blackened windows, a passerby might not otherwise know the building had sustained fire damage.
NARA Express remains closed due to damages. It's unclear if or when the eatery might reopen at the site.
