Fire in Portsmouth shopping center was electrical

PORTSMOUTH

A fire that destroyed several businesses late Monday started in electrical equipment above a restaurant's office, a fire official said.

An investigation Tuesday showed that the two-alarm fire started in the ceiling above Towne Point Pub, which was destroyed, said Capt. Paul Hoyle of Portsmouth Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services. The fire was considered an accident.

The fire, reported about 8 p.m., also destroyed other businesses in the Towne Point Shoppes center, in the 3500 block of Towne Point Road.

It was a quick-moving blaze.

According to Hunh Huynh, the pub manager, about 20 customers were inside when some of them smelled smoke Monday night. They saw smoke coming from a ceiling in the men's restroom, then saw flames in the office.

"And then we told everybody to get out," he said.

Yongjin Ahn, the manager of S&J Seafood, said he smelled something burning after closing at 8 p.m. He could not find a fire. He went outside and saw a fire at the back of the center.

By the time he got back to the front to try to save some paperwork, the store was filled with black smoke. It was impossible to go back inside.

The fire was under control by 10:30 p.m. Monday, but hot spots were still smoldering inside late Tuesday morning.

Business owners stood watching and waiting. Fire investigators could not immediately go inside the black, mangled interior until the building was shored up.

Hot Wings takeout restaurant had water and smoke damage, and S&J Seafood appeared to be destroyed. Kappatal Cuts barbershop had water damage, and a post office in the center had just a light coating of soot. Mail was safe and was taken to the city's main post office.

Tai and Curtis Winningham have owned the pub for 23 years.

Regular customers were "the core of our business," Curtis Winningham said, with some regulars going back 20 years.

Patrick Wilson, (757) 446-3893, patrick.wilson@pilotonline.com