‘Furry surprise.’ Kittens found in Kennewick business after fire
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Firefighters found six wet, soot-covered kittens hiding in the restaurant attic.
- Fire officials say damage to El Tequilas was significant; cause undetermined.
- Nearby shops suffered smoke damage and power outages as owners assess reopening.
Firefighters saved six kittens Tuesday from the burned wreckage of a Kennewick nightclub and restaurant.
Firefighters heard faint noises as they searched El Tequilas restaurant for places where the fire might have spread, according to a release from the city of Kennewick.
When they checked an attic space in the back of the restaurant, they found the kittens — wet and covered with soot — hiding inside. They were taken in by the Tri-City Animal Shelter, and are being fostered at the Tri-City Kitty Rescue.
The kittens’ mother has been spotted in the area, but is shy of people, said Stephanie Button, the executive director of the Historic Downtown Kennewick Partnership.
The kittens have become a moment of brightness as business owners wait to learn whether they’ll be able to open again after a fire broke out Tuesday morning.
Firefighters were called to the business about 6:45 a.m. after smoke was seen coming from the roof.
When firefighters arrived, they saw heavy smoke coming from the restaurant’s front and rear doors and the rooftop exhaust fans. As firefighters opened the doors, the fresh air coming in caused the fire to flare up.
“Teams moved quickly to suppress the main body of the fire,” Kennewick officials said in the news release.
Crews climbed onto the roof to cut in from above to check for places where the fire might have gotten into the attic.
Firefighters also evacuated nearby businesses and apartments, and power to the immediate area was cut.
Kennewick had help from Benton County Fire District 1, along with Pasco and Richland fire departments.
Investigators have not been able to determine what caused the fire or where it began.
El Tequilas opened its doors downtown in 2017 after owners Sujey Hernandez and Armando Rojo wanted to look for a new location. The family venture has been a successful spot for downtown Kennewick.
It’s not clear when it will be able to reopen, but fire officials said the damage was significant.
Neighboring businesses
The two businesses next door — Storytime Bookshop and Earth Spirit — were the most likely to be impacted.
While fire didn’t spread to either of the businesses, the owners are still working to determine when they’ll be able to open. Right now, most of the damage appears to be from smoke.
Much of the block of Kennewick Avenue between Benton and Auburn streets has been without power. Button said they have gotten power to some of the businesses, but getting it for Storytime Bookshop has been a struggle.
Getting power for the business is a priority to help mitigate the smoke. The sooner they can do that, the less damage it will do, Button said.
Lorelei Kennedy, the store’s owner, told the Tri-City Herald Tuesday that smoke had come in around a patch in the walls.
“Our thoughts are with all the impacted businesses, especially El Tequilas,” the partnership said in a Facebook post. “You can support our downtown community by shopping and visiting our businesses once they open, and visiting the businesses that are currently open. Like and follow their social media pages and leave positive reviews.”
This story was originally published March 17, 2026 at 3:58 PM.