Houston Fire Department arson investigators determined a lit cigarette caused the May 24 fire that destroyed Capt. Benny’s on Highway 290.
HOUSTON — A man blamed for a fire that burned down a northwest Houston restaurant last month has been arrested and charged, according to the Houston Fire Department.
Christian Dumser, 42, is charged with criminal mischief greater than $300,000 and reckless arson in connection with the May 24 fire on the Northwest Freeway near 34th Street, HFD said.
Editor’s note: Video above is from May 24, the day the fire broke out
Surveillance cameras helped arson investigators identify Dumser, who was arrested on Tuesday. They said he “carelessly discarded a lit cigarette” into dried or dead bushes outside Captain Benny’s hours at 1:13 a.m.
Cameras show Dumser enter the restroom in a nearby office building a few minutes later without the cigarette. According to HFD, he returned to the restaurant and appeared to watch a TV through the window before noticing the smoke coming from under adjacent wooden accessibility ramp.
“While the fire is accidental in nature, surveillance video shows the man acknowledging the fire and leaving the scene, failing to extinguish it as it smoldered before spreading to the business,” HFD said. “Something as simple as a discarded cigarette is a real danger, and in this case, caused millions of dollars in damage to a Houston business owner.”
The restaurant was a total loss with damage estimates of at least $1.5 million.
Fortunately, no one was hurt.
Captain Benny’s will reopen
On Friday, June 20, the restaurant posted an update about reopening.
According to a post on Captain Benny’s Facebook page, demolition of the charred structure will start next week and they could reopen before the end of the year.
“We hope to be open and serving the community and our long-time patrons within the next 6 to 8 months,” the post reads in part.
Flames engulf Captain Benny’s Seafood restaurant off Northwest Freeway