Fire Closes Oviedo’s

A fire broke out in the kitchen of Oviedo’s Lunch Counter last Thursday afternoon, causing significant structural damage to the restaurant. No one was injured in the fire.

Owner Reynaldo Oviedo said he was talking story with a customer when he noticed the fire.

“Accidents happen,” he said. “The kitchen has been used for 36 years while I have been here and this is the first problem; you can’t avoid it.”

The fire spread east to the adjacent building, and damaged part of the first and second floor. Next door neighbor Sundown Deli was closed on Friday, Dec. 17.

“I was a little panicked to see in the kitchen a big fire so I grabbed a hose but couldn’t do much,” Oviedo added.

Capt. Travis Tancayo of the Kaunakakai Fire Station said the fire traveled fast, and people were yelling across the street to the fire station as calls were coming in.

Initial estimates are $50,000 in structural damage and $10,000 in content damage.