Businesses have ‘lost everything’ as crews battle fire at Smithville strip mall
Several businesses located in a Smithville strip mall will remain closed until further notice following a fire Monday afternoon that drew firefighting crews from neighboring agencies.
According to a picture posted to the Smithville Police Department’s Facebook page, the blaze occurred at Smithville Plaza, a strip mall near U.S. 169 and West Main Street.
After receiving a mutual aid request from the Smithville Area Fire Protection District, firefighters with the Kansas City Fire Department responded to the strip mall at 2:18 p.m., Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins said in a news release Monday.
The fire was “fully involved” and constituted a “defensive operation,” Hopkins said. The fire department sent two pumpers, three trucks and two ambulances to the scene.
The Smithville Police Department closed U.S. 169 in both directions at West Main Street, the Facebook post said.
According to the post, the highway will be shut down for “an extended period of time,” and power has been turned off in the area.
The strip mall is home to La Fuente Mexican Restaurant, West Lake Chinese Restaurant, H&R Block, Lakeside Smoke and Pizza Shoppe.
Several businesses located at the strip mall took to social media Monday afternoon to provide updates on the fire.
In separate posts, La Fuente Mexican Restaurant and Pizza Shoppe said the businesses “lost everything,” and will be closed until further notice.
“We are thankful to be safe. Sending our continued prayers to the other businesses that lost everything, this was a big hit for our town,” Pizza Shoppe said in a post.
Lakeside Smoke said the smoke shop is planning to open a new location near Money Matters Tax & Financial Services, which is “very close” to its original spot in the strip mall, within a week, according to a Facebook post.
“While the damage to the strip was devastating, moments like this remind us how important it is to come together as a community and support one another,” Lakeside Smoke said. “We’re all in this together, and we’ll do everything we can to help however possible.”
This story was originally published March 30, 2026 at 6:11 PM.
