A popular Batesville restaurant suffered extensive damage from a mid-afternoon blaze on Wednesday.
The Batesville Fire Department was called to Dora Express Japanese Food, a restaurant located at the intersection of St. Louis and College streets in Batesville, around 3 p.m. yesterday.
Batesville Fire Chief Brent Gleghorn told White River Now’s Gary Bridgman Thursday morning that when firefighters arrived minutes later they reported “heavy fire and smoke” coming out of the building the restaurant utilizes for cooking. The restaurant is located in three cottages — one for cooking and two others for seating and the cashier.
The department determined the location of where they believe the fire started, but due to the extensive destruction from the blaze, the chief said the cause of the fire is unknown at the time.
“There’s so much damage there,” Gleghorn said, “that it’s going to take a full-time fire investigator to dig it out and figure out what exactly happened.”
Gleghorn estimated the damage to be around $200,000 based upon the square footage of the restaurant and the interior equipment.
However, the chief added, “That is a shot-in-the-dark, ballpark guess.”
Have a news tip or event to promote? Email White River Now at news@whiterivernow.com. Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. And don’t forget to download the White River Now mobile app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
Get up-to-date local and regional news/weather every weekday morning and afternoon from the First Community Bank Newsroom on Arkansas 103.3. White River Now updates are also aired weekday mornings on 93 KZLE, Outlaw 106.5, and Your FM 99.5.
