Fire Officials Deem Columbia Restaurant Fire Arson

COLUMBIA, S.C. ( WOLO) – An early morning fire at a Midlands restaurant is deemed arson. The Columbia-Richland Fire Department says a man captured in a nearby surveillance photo is a person-of-interest. Crews responded to The Salty Nut Cafe in Five Points on Greene Street around 4:30 a.m. and found heavy smoke coming from the building. “We did collect some evidence from the scene, and right now, it’s going to be taken to SLED to be analyzed and try to figure out weather it was an accelerant or what was used in this fire,” said Fire Chief Aubrey Jenkins. If you have any information concerning this fire, you’re asked to call 800-922-7766. Officials say it caused about $300,000 in damages.