Seattle Fire Department units responded to a call at Cafe Da Pino (2207 NE 65th St) just after 2 AM.
Details are few at this time, but KING 5 News’ overnight photographer, James S, said (via Twitter) that there was a small fire in the wall, and that no flames were visible outside the restaurant.
Full response for a fire at Ravenna & 65th. No visible flames. It’s an Italian restaurant, daPino lockerz.com/s/182368755
— KING5 Photog James S (@King5unit9) February 10, 2012
@RavennaBlog i think the damage was more in the wall from wiring. The 2nd floor looked untouched.
— KING5 Photog James S (@King5unit9) February 10, 2012
The building the small Italian eatery is located in also contains Vitality Pilates and Thrive Art School.
We will have more details about the fire and damage later in the morning, and will post updates here.
UPDATE (9:31 AM): Picture of the building taken at 8:30 AM shows minimal damage to the exterior of the building. Vitality Pilates at the west end of the building (out of the picture) appeared to be open.
Picture of building that houses Cafe Da Pino, taken the morning after the fire.
UPDATE (10:17 AM): We have details now about the fire from the Seattle Fire Department’s Kyle Moore.
Someone driving by around 2 AM called 911 after seeing flames coming from a wall of the restaurant. After forcibly entering the building, fire fighters encountered lots of smoke, but no flames or heat. They determined the cause was faulty knob and tube wiring in a wall, which had been smoldering for some time. The fire was cut out of the wall. There were no injuries, and the damage is estimated at $20,000 (primarily smoke damage).
UPDATE (12:29 PM): Q13 FOX has story up about the Cafe Da Pino fire, which includes a picture of where fire fighters had to forcibly enter the restaurant (the east side of the building).
UPDATE (3:14 PM): The Seattle Fire Department’s Fire Line site has some photos of this morning’s action.
Click the photo above to read "Electrical Wiring caused Fire at Ravenna Italian Restaurant" on Fire Line
Get back to cooking for us ASAP Pino! We love you and your yummy Italian dinners.
Hopefully Da Pino’s is open in a week or so. I don’t know about anyone else living in Ravenna, but to me Pino brings some old school community back.
Help get him back on his feet! When he re-opens visit him to try one of his delicious pasta dinners, a glass of Chianti or buy some of his famous dry goods – I always have his tasty salami in my fridge for snacks and last minute guests!
See you soon Pino.
L