Authorities investigating suspicious fire at Lincoln restaurant, LFR says

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – A fire at a Lincoln restaurant that caused $500,000 in damage on Monday has been declared suspicious, officials say.

Several Lincoln Fire & Rescue units were sent to the strip mall near First and O streets around 3:30 a.m.

When crews arrived, they saw heavy black smoke coming out of the Cielito Lindo Mexican Restaurant’s front door.

LFR spokeswoman MJ Lierman said Friday that the fire has been declared suspicious and that Lincoln Police are now helping investigate.

Investigators think the front door may have been broken before the fire started.  But they are unsure if the heat caused the glass to shatter.

Lierman said the fire happened in a unit of the strip mall owned by the restaurant that is used for storage.