A fire destroyed a family-owned grocery store in Renton on Aug. 24.
Community members have rallied to support Jackie and Damu Maples, the owners of Top of the Hill Quality Produce, after a fire burned down the store early Saturday morning.
Multiple fire agencies including the Renton Regional Fire Authority responded on Aug. 24 to reports of an explosion and fire at a commercial building in the 5300 block of Northeast 4th Street. Shortly after the arrival of firefighting crews at the scene, the incident was upgraded to a 2-alarm fire.
Firefighters attacked the fire from the exterior of the building, with the building experiencing a partial roof collapse in the center of the structure approximately 35 minutes following the initial call, according to the King County Fire District 20’s social media.
No injuries resulted to any firefighters in the call.
Fire investigators arrived at the scene with investigators continuing to work to determine a cause.
Friends and neighbors of the owners set up a GoFundMe to support the Maples the day of the fire, with a goal of raising $100,000.
As of Aug. 26, the GoFundMe has received nearly $12,000 in donations.
“Early Saturday morning … the store burned down and they lost everything inside,” the GoFundMe states. “Not only the physical losses, but now loss of income, as well as employees [who] are also out of work for an unknown amount of time.”
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