Investigators taking time on Monarch fire cause for safety
There is no definite time investigators will be finished looking into what caused the Monarch building fire early in the early morning of Sept. 12.
Pocatello Fire Chief David Gates said one of the problems is a lack of stable floor in one area. He said part of the floor is level, but another is sitting at a 45-degree angle, with a large amount of bricks precariously sitting on top.
Gates said there is no emergency now, so there is no rush to go into potentially unsafe conditions.
“We’re trying to make sure all that is safe as we dig in to the area that we suspect the fire started and try and identify the cause of the fire,” he said.
As to what the cause may be, Gates said he’s hesitant to even say what they’re guessing may have caused it.
“If you get tunnel vision for one item, then you tend to disregard all other items,” Gate said. “You want to go in with the concept that it could be various things and keep an open mind.”
Gate said the fire department has two investigators on scene while a third is from the building’s insurance company. Gates said they’re all working together to determine a cause.
Several other businesses suffered smoke damage, including the First National Bar, Molinelli’s Jewelers, the Dana Smith Dance Studio and the Paris building. The First National Bar is still closed as crews are inside continuing to clean.
In the meantime, local businesses are reaching out to support the tenants of the building. The night of the fire, the FlipSide Lounge donated 50 percent of all proceeds to those displaced.
Bands that were set to perform at the First National Bar the day of the fire changed their venue and are donating all proceeds to those that lost everything in the fire. The doors open at 7 p.m. at the Rubicon Lounge, part of the Ramada Hotel, 133 W. Burnside, Chubbuck.
While the Red Cross and one of the building owners Joel Mattingly put up the tenants in the Thunderbird Motel, many folks helped coordinate getting items for the tenants, like shoes, underwear and more clothing.
While they were at the Motel, EFresh, CostCo and the First National Bar all donated food. Other businesses include PV’s Pasta and Vino, Great Harvest Bread, as well as numerous churches. Numerous people have donating items to St. Vincent De Paul’s since the fire.
Friday, Sept. 26 the Bourbon Barrel Bar will also be holding a fundraiserfrom 5 p.m. to 1 a.m., located at West Clark Street and Union Pacific Avenue.
Do you know of more fundraisers set for the Monarch? Just email Chris Cole at chris.cole@localnews8.com to get information added to this story, and make sure to add the events to our events section of the website.
