Fire destroys Clark Fork bar

CLARK FORK — Flames were spotted just after 4 a.m. this morning inside the Cabinet Mountain Bar and Grill in Clark Fork. Firefighters and investigators were on the scene throughout most of Monday, with no cause being reported.

"We figured it had been burning about 20 minutes to a half hour before somebody saw it and reported it," said Bob Wathen, fire chief for the Sam Owen Fire Department in Clark Fork. "It was pretty well burned so we don't know if we will ever find (the cause)."

He said the building had several areas with fire patterns on the walls which may make finding the cause more difficult.

He said there were 18 firefighters on the scene early Monday, 12 from his station and six from Clark Fork. The Idaho State Fire Marshall was also on scene, Wathen said. The building was empty at the time of the fire. Firefighters had the blaze knocked down in about an hour and 20 minutes, Wathen said.

Wathen would not comment on the total amount of damage to the bar and grill, but said the metal roof fell in. Crews are still at the scene working on "mop up," he said. The Clark Fork Fire Department took over control about 11:30 a.m.

Kelly Kerns, owner of the Clark Fork Lodge down the street said the gas station across from the bar and grill called him about 4:15 a.m. after seeing the fire. Kearns said he immediately responded but the fire spread very quickly.

"Within minutes, it was all the way across the building," Kerns said to the Daily Bee Monday afternoon. "They are still putting it out. It's still smoldering."

Kearns said he hopes the place will be rebuilt better than before. He also knows that community members are now out of work for an unknown amount of time.

"The 15 people out of work is the worst part," Kearns said.?