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Davis NW Smokehouse, a soul food restaurant in Eugene’s Whiteaker neighborhood, was severely damaged in a fire that broke out early Saturday morning. The Eugene Police Department is investigating the fire as a suspected arson.
Officials are investigating a fire that damaged a Whiteaker-neighborhood restaurant Saturday, June 20, as suspected arson, according to the Eugene Police Department and Eugene Springfield Fire.
The restaurant, Davis NW Smokehouse at 298 Blair Boulevard, caught fire early Saturday morning. When Eugene Springfield Fire responded at about 2:30 a.m., crews saw a “large volume of fire” that extended to the kitchen and roof of the restaurant, a press release said.
Firefighters confirmed the building was unoccupied and prevented the fire from spreading to nearby buildings. Crews brought the blaze under control in 15 minutes and spent two hours extinguishing hot spots. Eugene police helped with traffic control.
Eugene Springfield Fire officials escalated the case to police after ruling out accidental causes. The fire’s cause is currently undetermined.
“What we observed at the scene could be an indication of arson,” Deputy Chief Fire Marshal Travis Worthington said.
Firefighters observed the fire as quick-moving, which can sometimes indicate a fire that was intentionally set, Worthington said.
A Eugene police spokesperson confirmed that the department’s arson detectives will investigate but declined to comment further on an active investigation.
Video shared on Davis NW Smokehouse’s Instagram showed extensive damage to the soul food restaurant’s roof, kitchen and exterior. According to a GoFundMe account set up for owner Willie Davis to help cover fire-related damages, the cost of kitchen equipment alone exceeded $70,000.
Justin Carney, who set up the fundraising page and identified himself as a friend of Davis, stated the restaurant is “bigger than the food it serves, it’s a place that welcomes everybody from the community.”
“Davis NW Smokehouse has filled a void that has existed in this community since the closing of Papa’s Soul Food,” he continued on the GoFundMe page. “Not only for the unique BBQ and soul food menu, but for the vibe and community feeling that you get when you walk into the restaurant.”
