Popular Kennewick restaurant damaged in early morning blaze

The Double Dragon, a Kennewick restaurant adored by many, is closed after a fire early Tuesday damaged its kitchen.

But Fire Chief Chad Michael said the damage could have been much worse, if not for the quick action of people who were in the area.

They spotted flames coming from the roof of the business on Clearwater Avenue just before 3:30 a.m. and called 911, Michael said. When the battalion chief arrived on the scene, he spotted flames coming out a roof vent and fire in the kitchen.

Firefighters got into the building and quickly put the fire out.

Kennewick firefighters had help from Richland Fire Department and Benton County Fire District 1.

No one was hurt in the fire.

While the stove and other equipment in the kitchen was damaged, the rest of the building was largely spared from the fire, Michael said.

He encouraged people to call in if something doesn’t seem right.

“We’d rather check it out and find that it’s not what you thought it was, rather than come out to a building with a much more developed fire,” he said.

Several people were saddened by the news of the fire when it reached social media, saying it is their favorite restaurant.

The Double Dragon was voted Tri-Cities’ favorite Asian restaurant as part of the Tri-City Herald’s People’s Choice Award in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

Ron and Lisa Chen opened the business in 1999 after closing their first restaurant in Hermiston.

While they both come from China, the couple met in Portland and opened their first restaurant in Hermiston in 1993.

This story was originally published December 7, 2021 at 10:24 AM.