Fire Breaks Out at Kansaku Overnight

A fire broke out in a microwave at Kansaku Sushi in downtown Evanston early Tuesday morning, causing smoke damage to the restaurant at 1514 Sherman Ave. 

Firefighters were alerted to the blaze at about 12:40 a.m., when a patron at Bar Louie called 9-11 to report smoke next door, according to Evanston Fire Division Chief Dwight Hohl. 

“It was in the microwave, so it’s probably electrical,” Hohl said, adding that the fire department is still investigating the cause of the fire.

Hohl said the major cost to the restaurant would be damage due to smoke, but firefighters also had to break down the door in order to enter. The health department will also inspect Kansaku before it can reopen, he said. 

Reached at his restaurant Tuesday morning, owner Yoon Kim said he heard about the fire around 1:30 a.m. and came to the restaurant right away. 

“We are trying to take the smoke out,” he said. “We hope to reopen later today or tomorrow for lunch.” 

Kim said Kansaku had been open in Evanston for more than six years.