In Ann Arbor, Michigan, firefighters contained an early-morning structure fire at Tomukun Noodle Bar on East Liberty Street that left the restaurant temporarily closed and caused an estimated $150,000 in damage.
Crews responded to a report of a structure fire at about 2:52 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, at 505 E. Liberty St., between Thompson Street and Maynard Street. On arrival, firefighters found fire coming from the roof of Tomukun Noodle Bar. When they reached the roof, they found the fire coming from the kitchen hood exhaust system and quickly put hose lines to work.
Fire officials said the blaze appears to have started in a trash can in the restaurant kitchen, then spread to the kitchen hood system and the roof. Because of the fast response, fire damage was limited to that single restaurant. Smoke from the fire and water used to extinguish it also affected neighboring businesses Lab Cafe and Tomukun Korean BBQ in the same building.
Officials estimated firefighters saved about $1.75 million in building and contents that could have been lost if the fire had spread further. After the fire, Lab Cafe and Tomukun Korean BBQ were to remain closed until evaluated by the Washtenaw County Health Department. Tomukun Korean BBQ later reopened Sunday, while Tomukun Noodle Bar and Lab Cafe remained closed until further notice.
Tomukun Noodle Bar’s door was boarded up with a sign from BELFOR Property Restoration as cleanup and repairs began on East Liberty Street in downtown Ann Arbor, Michigan.