Valley restaurant fire under investigation

Firefighters are investigating the cause of a Monday morning blaze that destroyed Susie’s Steak and Seafood, a longtime Millwood restaurant.

The fire started sometime between 2:30 a.m. and 3:30 a.m., when a newspaper carrier spotted flames rolling out the front of the Trent Avenue building and raced to the Millwood fire station for help. There was no one inside the bar.

“There were flames showing on the inside. It was almost totally involved,” said David Jones, the newspaper carrier.

Jones said he had dropped off a newspaper at Susie’s an hour earlier and everything seemed fine.

Firefighters attacked the fire with four pump trucks and two overhead ladders.

Traffic detours were set up in the 9600 block of East Trent Avenue to make room for emergency workers.

By 10 a.m., through a shattered front window, a jukebox could be seen smoldering as firefighters shoveled charred pieces of the business out the front door.

Light blue vinyl siding drooped from the building’s eaves and the acrid smell of burning tar and wood was everywhere.

Firefighters working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ended Monday with few answers about the cause.

“Nothing is being ruled out at this point,” said Warren C. Kennett, battalion chief with Spokane Valley Fire.

“We haven’t deemed it suspicious. We will be able to say more tomorrow.”

Susie’s Steak and Seafood is owned by Marlow Enterprises and been in the Marlow family for at least two generations. Leonard Marlow II, who currently holds the liquor license for the business, could not be reached for comment Monday.