'Shoe Tree' burns down

NORDMAN — Nearly 70 years of tradition and hundreds of pairs of sneakers are gone after the famous “Shoe Tree” was destroyed in a fire Thursday evening.

U.S. Forest Service firefighters responded to a report of smoke around 8:30 p.m. and upon arrival discovered the quirky landmark fully engulfed in flames. 

Investigators are still working on determining a cause, but ruled out lightning after none was reported that night.

Firefighters had some difficulty suppressing the fire due to shoe rubber melting and dripping, but successfully kept the fire from spreading more than 30 feet from the tree.

The “shoe tree” has been an informal landmark in the Priest Lake area for decade. Individuals from throughout the world continued to add shoes to the tree despite Forest Service officials discouraging locals and tourists from adding shoes.

“I really feel for the community’s loss of this tree,” said Dick Kramer, Sandpoint and Priest Lake district ranger. “People started adding shoes to this tree as early as the 1940s, so we appreciate the history and the community’s attachment, but we would like to discourage the public from creating another shoe tree take this one’s place.”

   Anyone with information related to the fire are encouraged to contact the Priest Lake Forest Service office at (208) 443-2512.