A fire ravaged through a historic building on Sutter Creek's Main Street in the early hours of Friday, leaving the Amador County community to grapple with the loss. The blaze, which initiated around 1 a.m., consumed what was once the family-owned Sutter Greek Restaurant, a site with over a century's presence, according to KCRA.
According to the KCRA, firefighters managed to bring the second-story fire under control by approximately 3:10 a.m., preventing it from spreading to the tightly packed neighboring structures. The Sutter Creek Fire Protection District verified that an occupant living on the second floor was able to exit safely, and police reported no injuries ensued from the incident.
The landmark building, established in 1898, stood on the foundation of a previous saloon dating back to the 1870s, as noted by the Sutter Creek Police Department. Sutter Creek fire chief Dominic Moreno, acknowledging the building's significance, expressed his hopes to KCRA, stating, "This is our Disneyland Main Street," and shared his desire to see it restored to its former glory.
Sutter Creek's Mayor Claire Gunselman, while deeming the preservation of surrounding buildings a "miracle," lamented the loss of the historic edifice. Despite the abrupt shock, the upcoming local festivities, which include a homecoming parade, and this weekend's car show, will proceed, albeit with slight alterations, Gunselman mentioned to KCRA.
In the wake of the tragedy, residents and onlookers sorrowfully gathered, dismayed at the loss of the community landmark. David Jewell told ABC10 in an interview, "We were sleeping, we heard a big boom, I looked out like across the room. One window was totally yellow and flashing. I'm going, 'That isn't right,' I walked over, I looked out the window and the entire building was in flames. [I've] never seen anything like that before in my life." Jewell was among the individuals evacuated from neighboring buildings due to the fire.
The investigation into the fire's origin remains ongoing, as asserted by Sutter Creek police, engaging multiple agencies in the undertaking. As Main Street reopens, and the charred remains stand as a testament to the area's history, Chief Moreno's reflection, as reported by ABC10, resonated with a shared sentiment in the community: "[I] always tell people this downtown is our Disneyland ... it's like coming through the gate at Disneyland. You walk in here, time slows down, things get a little nicer, quieter and stuff like that, so yes we hope it gets rebuilt the way it was."
