SHORELINE, Wash. — Crews battled a fire that destroyed a longtime Shoreline business early Monday.
The fire in the 17700 block of 15th Avenue Northeast was called out at around 5 a.m. on Monday.
The business that caught fire is family-owned Suni’s Pizza & Burgers. A member of that family told KIRO 7 the restaurant has been in business since 1979.
Video from the scene showed heavy flames and smoke coming from the building’s roof. Fire officials said crews had to fight the flames defensively from the outside.
By 6:45 a.m., the fire appeared to be under control.
“It looks like the fire started in the exterior of the building and moved into the interior. We were unable to get crews very far inside because of the heavy fire conditions,” said Shoreline Fire Department Battalion Chief Cameron Stewart.
The cause of the fire is not yet known. Stewart said the building is a total loss. He also said one firefighter had a very minor injury.
Suni’s was already facing staffing shortages that forced the restaurant to close on Mondays. It’s unclear how the restaurant will recover.
Police closed 15th Avenue Northeast between 180th and 177th streets during the fire response.
Crews from the Shoreline, Bothell, and Northshore fire departments fought the flames.