Smithville Strip Mall Fire: Community Rallies for Rebuild

0:00A massive fire ripped through a Smithville strip mall on Monday afternoon, wiping out five businesses completely. It started in the kitchen of West Lake Chinese restaurant and spread fast, destroying Smithville's pizza shop, La Fuente Mexican Restaurant, H&R, Block and Lakeside Smoke. No one got hurt, which is the big relief here. By Tuesday, March 31, 2026, the site was fenced off with caution tape, charred beams and bricks everywhere, and that smoky. While still hanging in the air, Nissa Tru, owner of the pizza shop, was back on scene, already talking about reopening after owning it for over three years. The community stepped up big time right away. Folks on social media flooded posts with support, offering hugs and kind words to the owners and staff. Tru said it eased the pain, watching people rally even as flames took her place. A GoFundMe for La Fuente pulled in over $1,500 by Tuesday afternoon. H&R Block Tax Pros watched it all unfold from the curb, but they're bouncing back

1:04quick with a new spot opening Wednesday in another building nearby. Support like this show Smithville's Titanid Vibe, turning devastation into a path forward for these spots to rebuild stronger. That's your update from Kansas News Today, powered by AI.