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Carpenter Bar & Grill destroyed by fire Monday
for the Press-News Posted June 21, 2006
CARPENTER - Charred rubble is all that remains of Carpenter Bar & Grill this morning.
St. Ansgar firefighters got the call about 4 a.m. that there was heavy smoke coming from the single-story building along Mitchell County Road 105.
"Smoke was so thick in the front of the building, we couldn't get in," Fire Chief Jerry Rachut said. "We could smell the smoke more than a mile out of town."
Even using positive pressure fans to force clear cool air into the building, firefighters were unable to contain the blaze.
"That tin siding and tin roof, kept the heat and flames inside," Rachut said. "We never got a chance to get in before fire broke through the roof."
Rachut paged Grafton and Northwood fire departments to help.
Tom and Kathy DeBower watched from their home across the street.
"It was eerie, first the smoke then flames against the dark," Tom DeBower said. "We could hear it popping and cracking, then the windows blew out. It was a hot fire."
DeBowers own a cement block building with a flat roof adjacent to the bar filled with inventory for their business - Dockum TV & Appliance.
Though the building was filled with smoke, flames never broke through the wall.
After soaking down smoldering roofing material, firefighters used that building as a vantage point to fight the blaze from above.
"We had men on the roof right away, and pumping water from the front and back, but it was just too hot to stop," Rachut said.
Heaving a sigh, John Schmall stared at the smoldering skeletal remains of his business.
"What a mess," he said, with a shake of his head.
The building was insured.
"But I'm thinking about the people," Schmall said. "I've got five employees out of work and that's not good."
Cause of the fire is being investigated by the State Fire Marshal's Office, Rachut said.
Story created Jun 20, 2006 - 11:36:43 CDT.
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