Fire at Mexican Restaurant Was Arson, Authorities Say

Investigators have determined a fire that caused more than $400,000 damage to a Mexican restaurant on Sunday night, northeast of Edmonds, near Lake Serene, was intentionally set.

A passerby reported the fire just before 11 p.m. at the LaTaqueria Mexicana restaurant in the 13900 block of Highway 99  in unincorporated Snohomish County. The restaurant was closed at the time of the fire and no one was inside.

When firefighters arrived, smoke and flames were coming from the single-story building, said Leslie Hynes, public information officer for Snohomish County Fire District 1. Firefighters from Fire District 1, Lynnwood and Mukilteo responded and had the fire under control within about 20 minutes. No one was injured.

The Snohomish County Fire Marshal’s office is heading up the arson investigation. Investigators ask anyone with information that may help in the investigation to contact the Fire Marshal’s Office at (425) 388-3557 or call 1-800-55-ARSON.

There is a $10,000 reward from the Arson Alarm Foundation for information leading to the arrest and criminal conviction of the persons responsible for the fire.