N.C. Japanese Restaurant Damaged by Fire

Oct. 17--A Sunday night fire caused extensive damage to the inside of Usagi Japanese Steak and Seafood restaurant on the five lane. The wife of the building's owner said Monday the restaurant part of the structure did not have fire insurance and it is a total loss.

The call for the fire came in at 9:41 p.m. Sunday. Ray McDaniel, assistant chief of the Marion Fire Department, said his department was assisted by firefighters from Hankins-North Fork, Woodlawn-Sevier and Pleasant Gardens. The McDowell County Rescue Squad and the McDowell Emergency Medical Services provided assistance as well.

Firefighters were on the scene for a little less than two hours.

The fire was contained in the kitchen area of the restaurant but it left considerable smoke and heat damage to the rest of the Japanese eatery. The restaurant was closed at the time of the fire and no one was injured, said McDaniel.

As to the cause of the fire, McDaniel said it could have been an electrical problem.

"We're thinking it was electrical, possibly in the area of an electrical outlet," he added.

That building houses both Usagi and a church next door called His Place. The building is owned by Wilbur Dalton while Ngoc Tran is the owner of the Usagi restaurant business, according to McDaniel.

The assistant chief said he did not want to speculate about the dollar amount for the damage that was done to the restaurant portion.

Dalton's wife Margie told The McDowell News the building does not have fire insurance. She said her husband cannot afford fire insurance for all the rental properties he owns. Therefore, the restaurant portion cannot be replaced.

"If it wasn't burned, it was melted," she said. "It's just a total loss."

The Daltons arrived on the scene of the fire Sunday night as soon as they heard the news.

"There was nothing you could do but stand and watch them put it out," said Margie Dalton.

His Place suffered almost no damage from the fire. A firewall stands between Usagi and the His Place Church, which only got a little smoke damage.

"That's what saved them," said Margie Dalton.

Paul and Marian Boyd are the ministerial team for His Place. Paul Boyd said he was grateful for the local firefighters who responded so quickly and professionally.

"I just wanted to thank the firemen and firewomen because they did a fantastic job," he said. "They were so quick in responding. They saved our site. They saved His Place."

The house of worship will celebrate its first anniversary on Sunday.

"Without the firefighters, we could have been meeting in the parking lot," said Paul Boyd.