Flames engulf vacated restaurant

By Rachel Edelman
Daily Staff Reporter

A fire broke out at Magic Wok restaurant on East William Street on Friday afternoon. Two fire trucks quickly arrived to the scene, and firefighters worked to extinguish the fire, which caused no injuries.

"There was fire damage to the roof and second floor," said Ann Arbor Fire Department Chief George Markus.

The roof was in the process of being renovated by two construction workers. One worker was laying down a patch of rubber for a new roof when a bird's nest in the roof's gutter caught fire. The fire, which was called in at 12:05 p.m., was ignited by a torch, which the workers used to heat the new roof and weld it down.

"It just all of a sudden caught on fire," said Ann Arbor resident Dan Hill.

KEVIN KRUPITZER/Daily

As onlookers watched from below, firefighters cut through multiple layers that had been built over Magic Wok's original roof.

"We had to open walls and ceilings," Markus said. "At one point, we had about 28 personnel at the scene."

The second floor of the building suffered water damage as well when the sprinkler system was activated.

Magic Wok has been closed for several months. Owners of the store would not comment on the fire.

Employees and customers at the two businesses adjacent to Magic Wok, A-1 Alterations and The Burro, were evacuated. Markus said "minor smoke damage" was done to the stores.

The Burro suffered water damage as well.

"There was flooding caused by the fire hoses. There was also smoke damage, but we dealt with it through air filters and de-humidifiers," said Douglas Allen, an employee at The Burro.

"I just saw the smoke and the fire. I smelled it. It smelled like a cigarette burning," said Xing He, owner of A-1 Alterations. He was working in the tailor shop when the fire began.

The two construction workers at the scene said they were unsure why the roof was being redone.

"We've been working here for three or four months," said Mike Johnson, owner of Highlander Construction. "The entire ceiling is gone on the second floor. They pulled it down because of the fire."

Johnson said his company was contracted by Campus Management, a private business that owns Magic Wok.

"Magic Wok is not open as far as I know," Johnson said.

Many gathered on East William Street as firefighters worked to extinguish the fire.

"I was at the toy and bike shop (on East William) when I saw the commotion here," said Ann Arbor resident Jim Pog. "I didn't know that the fire happened here. I thought it was on the other side of State Street."

- Daily Staff Reporters Jeffrey Kosseff and Susan T. Port contributed to this report.

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