A large fire ravaged the entire second floor of Sumah’s West African Restaurant and Carryout in Shaw late last month. Now, community members have set up a GoFundMe page on behalf of the Sumahs to help them rebuild their extensively damaged restaurant. So far, the page has raised nearly $2,300 out of a $5,000 goal.

A representative for GoFundMe tells DCist that the campaign has been verified.

The fire, at least partly fueled by rooftop propane tanks and aided by particularly heavy winds, started just before 6:30 p.m. on November 28. Amara Sumah, who owns the restaurant along with his wife Isata, told DCist that there was only one customer in the store when employees began smelling smoke. They checked the burners and everything appeared to be fine, but about 10 minutes later, they saw smoke pouring into the restaurant through the back door. That’s when they ran outside and called the fire department.

The entire roof and second floor (which Sumah’s uses for storage) were destroyed by the flames. “The building suffered very significant damage. The second floor was pretty much gutted front to back and the roof also had very significant damage,” D.C. Fire public information officer Vito Maggiolo told DCist at the time. The first floor sustained some smoke damage, and also water damage from the firefighting efforts, Maggiolo says. 

Sumah’s has operated in the area for more than 20 years, and been closed since the fire in late November.

“It is by the grace of God that everyone got out alive and the firefighters were able to put out the blaze. While the physical establishment burned down, the love of Mr. and Mrs. Sumah, their family and friends, still stands,” reads the GoFundMe page. “There are people from diverse cultures and backgrounds who visit the restaurant to speak with the Sumah Family and they always have a smile on their face and stories to share. Let’s step in and give them back the same love they give us!”