Officials determine location of fire's start
(Photo courtesy SELKIRK FIRE RESCUE & EMS) Flames and smoke pour from several buildings in Sandpoint's Historic District after a fire broke out in the early morning hours Monday. City officials announced Friday that the investigation was being put on hold due to the weathr and that it could take up to 60 days for the investigation to be completed.
SANDPOINT — While the cause of Monday’s devastating downtown fire isn’t known yet, Idaho State Fire Marshal investigators have been able to determine where it started.
In a Thursday meeting with Sandpoint officials, the Idaho deputy fire marshal and private investigators said the fire appears to have started in the building at 202 N. First Ave. The building housed Headlines hair salon and The Hound Restaurant.
The investigation covers not only the building at 202 N. First Ave. but the building next door at 204/206 N. First Ave., which housed The Chocolate Bear, China Kitchen and Sandpoint Tattoo & Body Piercing. A third building at 208 N. First Ave., which housed the Grace Sandpoint and Grace Sandpoint Bible College, sustained heavy smoke and water damage. Officials with the church and Bible college have indicated they will be meeting Sunday at a temporary location until repairs are completed.
City officials said Thursday that, for safety reasons, the investigation is on hold until the weather clears. However, it is anticipated it could take 45-60 days before a final report on the fire is issued.
The fire, reported just after 1 a.m. Monday, has left the community heartbroken and shocked with hundreds of posts and comments on stories about the fire. However, the community has also reacted with an outpouring of support, from launching GoFundMe accounts to offering space in their buildings to planned fundraisers.
Dozens of firefighters from Selkirk Fire Rescue & EMS and fire districts throughout Bonner County and part of Kootenai County responded to fight the fire. Firefighters arrived to find smoke emanating from the roof and fire consuming the interior, finding cramped conditions, vintage construction and years of remodeling.
The buildings that burned, which began life as a saloon space during the city’s wilder, turn-of-the-century, has been home to a laundry list of businesses over the course of its lifetime. They include The Floor Show, Conlan’s bar, The Back Door bar and Bricks & Barley, just to name a few.
City officails earlier estimated that damage from the fire was expected to range from $4-7 million.
Caroline Lobsinger can be reached by email at clobsinger@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @CarolDailyBee.