Arson suspect sought after fire of occupied Ka-Te Restaurant and Bar in SE Portland

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Portland Fire and Rescue investigators are seeking an arson suspect after an overnight fire happened at an occupied restaurant in the Lents Neighborhood.

Just before 2 a.m. Tuesday morning, PF&R said crews responded to the fire at the Ka-Te Restaurant and Bar at 3554 SE 82nd Ave.

On the way to the restaurant, fire crews learned the blaze was on the patio and drawing closer to the main structure.

The people who were inside the building safely evacuated following instructions from dispatchers at BOEC to exit through a doorway. By the time firefighters arrived, the people were out in front of the building, with the fire active in the back. Everyone safely made it out of the building, officials said.

“Crews quickly extinguished the fire on the exterior and ensured that the fire did not extend to the interior of the building,” PF&R said in a press release. “Due to the suspicious nature of the fire, the command officer requested the on-duty fire investigator to the scene.”

Firefighters reviewed security camera footage, interviewed people at the scene and assessed the fire damage. Kiki, a Portland Fire and Rescue dog, also detected that an accelerant had been used.

Surveillance video released by PF&R shows the alleged arsonist dumping what investigators think is the accelerant onto a ramp. A bright flash of orangish light illuminates the scene from off-screen. He then runs down the street.

Jason Andersen, senior arson investigator with PF&R, said the arson appears to be targeted as it occurred right before last call while people were still inside the restaurant and bar.

“That individual brazenly just poured this, this out of a makeshift container or what appears to be pouring a liquid, around that exterior wood patio and porch area of this business,” Andersen said. “Then what we can see off camera a little bit is that it ignites with a bright flash, which is very indicative of accelerants and ignited liquids. So our fire investigators saw that video and that to them, you know, really heightened their senses of urgency of what we need to do.”

Andersen added that firefighters putting out the flames at the time smelled “what they thought to be gasoline.”

Todd Henderson lives nearby and said he’s not surprised by what happened and that he and others are constantly picking up messes.

“Cleanup is every day. There’s never a day, in fact, sometimes twice a day, on the street because the amount of garbage that ends up on the street. So it’s just the nature of being where we are, near 82nd and Powell, that […] creates a lot of those issues,” Henderson said.

Anyone who is able to identify the person is asked to contact Portland Fire and Rescue. In addition, people in the immediate vicinity of the restaurant who may have security footage between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. Tuesday morning are also asked to check it for any video of a person matching the suspect’s description and contact Portland Fire investigators.