Robert Allen

Detroit Free Press

►UPDATE:Corktown's Katoi restaurant 'gutted' after burglars set fire, police say

Firefighters were busy this morning putting out flames on the roof of Katoi, a restaurant in Detroit's Corktown neighborhood.

About seven firefighters were on the roof, venting the fire shortly before 7 a.m., and water could be seen surrounding the restaurant on Michigan Avenue and 17th Street.

Detroit Fire Chief Dale Bradley said firefighters responded to the call of a restaurant on fire at 6:12 a.m. The department sent four fire engines, two ladder trucks, two squads and three chief cars to the scene. An EMS team was on standby.

The fire crew cleared the scene by about 7:45 a.m. The restaurant owners were at the scene but declined to comment.

The incident is under investigation

The Free Press recently named Katoi No. 1 of the Top 10 new restaurants to open in 2016. And this week the restaurant was named a semifinalist in the best new restaurant category of the James Beard Awards, a national competition considered one of the culinary world's highest honors.