UPDATE: Investigators Search Fire Site for Clues to Cause

PHOTOS BY AL FRANCIS AND ROBERT PEEBLES JR.
UPDATE: 4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, 2013.

A team of Napa fire investigators did an exhaustive search Thursday at the scene of last night's fire in downtown Napa, said Napa City Fire Capt. Doug Bridewell.

Bridewell said the team, which includes Fire Marshal Darren Drake, Fire Investigator Larry Pasero and several others, have not yet announced their findings as to why or how a pile of foam roofing panels ignited on the roof of Eiko's Japanese restaurant.

"They did a full-blown investigation," Bridewell said. He said he had no word on whether the team suspected arson.

"It's too early to tell right now," he said Thursday. "They will announce their findings when they're done."

Bridewell said the team would also be announcing a complete damage estimate for the two-alarm fire at 1375 Napa Town Center that drew in scores of Napa-area firefighters and equipment.

He said the major loss in the blaze were the roofing panels, which are estimated to cost $45 to $50 each.

"There were at least 100 panels stacked up there," he said. "So that's some idea (of the damages)."

Firefighters were able to prevent most of the water from penetrating the roof of the restaurant and that of an adjacent building. Fire damage was contained to the rooftops, officials said.

Eiko's tweeted that they were closed today for lunch due to some minor water seepage, but that they would be re-opening for dinner tonight.

UPDATE: 11:24 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2013.

Wednesday's fire in downtown Napa has been contained to the roof of Eiko's Sushi Restaurant and that of an adjacent building at Napa Town Center, fire officials said tonight.

"We had it under control in about 35 minutes," said Napa City Fire Operations Chief John Callanan. He said the blaze was called in at roughly 9:30 p.m.

Callanan said the fire started in a pile of foam panels on the roof of Eiko's Retaurant and spread to the roof of an adjacent building.

The foam panels were piled there in preparation for new roofing construction, he said.

He had no specific damage estimate, but "someone who was up there said the property damage wasn't as bad as it could have been, given the amount of fire that we had," Callanan said.

He said Eiko's was evacuated but no one was injured or suffered any smoke inhalation. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

All on-duty Napa City Fire personnel were called to the scene, plus a large contingent from Napa County Fire Department. In all, there were seven fire engines, two fire trucks, a battalion chief unit and a ladder truck from Napa County Fire, Callanan said.

First Street was closed to traffic, as were portions of Randolph and Franklin streets.

He said firefighters were currently working on overhauling and salvaging of the blaze to check for sparks and to make sure that no water damage infiltrated the interior of the restaurant or the adjacent building.

Callanan said he had no word on whether it was a helicopter or a fixed wing plane that people saw flying above the area of the fire -- but he said the plane it was not part of the Napa City Fire team, he said.


UPDATE: 10:20 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2013.

Firefighters have brought a two-alarm blaze under control at Napa Town Center, said Napa City Fire Battalion Chief Steve Stuart.

Stuart said Napa City Fire, assisted by Napa County Fire, succeeded in bringing the fire under control at about 10 p.m.

Stuart said there were no reports of injuries.

 He said the fire occurred at a commercial building on First Street, but he could not confirm an exact location.

"It's not McCaulous's," he said.

Witnesses said the blaze appeared to come from a rear entrance to Eiko's Sushi restaurant at 1385 Napa Town Center, but that location could not be confirmed.

Another witness said the location was 1375 Napa Town Center.

PREVIOUSLY: 9:45 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2013.
Napa City Fire and other fire agencies are responding to a blaze at Eiko's Sushi in the Napa Town Center in downtown Napa, witnesses said.

Another witness said the fire was near McCaulous's store.

The fire apparently broke out at about 9:30 p.m. tonight. Fire officials have called for a second alarm.

Information was not immediately available on the cause of the blaze.