An early morning fire destroyed the kitchen at Currents Bistro in Coupeville on April 24.

Central Whidbey Fire and Rescue responded to the fire shortly after midnight, Chief Ed Hartin said.

A neighbor saw the fire and called 911, Hartin said. The neighbor was trying to help fight the fire with a garden hose.

Hartin said the fire appeared to start in the kitchen and spread to the attic. A video posted on the restaurant’s social media showed flames coming out of the roof.

North Whidbey Fire and Rescue and the Oak Harbor Fire Department crews also responded. Hartin said firefighters were able to put out the fire in an hour and a half and stayed longer to ensure there were no remaining hot spots.

“It was fortunate the neighbors were watching and called it in,” Hartin said.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, the chief said, but did not appear to be suspicious.

The restaurant said it will be closed for an extended period and will keep customers updated via social media. It had just received a food delivery the Friday before the fire and had to sell its refrigerated items on Monday and Tuesday.

Brian and Nancy Cedar, who run the restaurant, thanked the neighbors for alerting firefighters about the emergency, and those who have stepped up to help them.

“All we can say is we are incredibly thankful for all of the help and assistance of the community, and we look forward to serving them in the future,” Brian Cedar said. “Whenever that future is.”

Vickie Chambers, executive director of the Coupeville Historic Waterfront Association, said the organization will set up a donation fund at Whidbey Island Bank if people would like to help the business. It will be called the “Currents Bistro Fire Response Fund.”