I needed to return to town this afternoon, so I walked around the scene for about 45 min. It's unbelievable the damage, so many people affected by this fire. Id estimate 10-15 lost there home and 25 out of work. A couple of the business were running on shoestrings, they may never return.
Several brick walls are ready to collapse. The city is going to help so they don't fall and injure onlookers. The furthest building with red and yellow brick are almost unaffected. There are 4 side windows to the rear that broke and are already covered with plywood.
This ice covered dumpster is where the fire is thought to have started.
The corner building to the left of the alley is the building with the dumpster in the previous shot. The corner storefront to the right was a little pizza place. I covered there "Grand Opening" a couple years ago. The two people in the forground are a news crew from the local channel 12 news.
I'd say it was a warm fire. These glass globes are about 1/2" thick and were gas lights before being converted in the '60s.
This had been Angilo's Pizza. I covered there opening in July 2005.
Link:
http://www.pbase.com/jstuedle/angilos_pizza_grand_opening_july_21_2005
Such a shame to see so many affected by this fire. The fire had to jump the alley to get to the pizza place, but the building to the extreme left is almost untouched. It's owned by one of the more politically powerful and wealthy businessman in town. Sort of makes you wonder.
All 5 storefronts now have the 2nd floor apartments and parts of the roof at ground level. Nothing in any of the 5 buildings is salvageable.