On Monday, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda on Friday, December 23, after a fire broke out in the utility room of Kapow Buddy restaurant.
The fire was caused by a commercial water heater with flames spreading to nearby combustibles. Patrons were evacuated, and while some smoke entered the mall, the fire was extinguished, and no injuries were reported.
On Tuesday, Kapow Buddy announced it would be closed until further notice.
“We are devastated to inform you that our store will be temporarily closed until further notice. Last night, we got a fire incident from our electric panel to the water heater. We were fortunate that we caught it early and no one got harmed nor injured. We are endeavoring to replace the water heater and make necessary repairs, though the timeframe for reopening is uncertain. Having only been opened for 2 months, this is surely a difficult time for all of us. However, we are dedicated to come back even stronger and better. Thank you all for understanding. We will see you soon.”
Menu offerings include “Thai Street Bowls” and Thai “street snacks.”