Pics and an article

k1500chevy97 · February 13, 2004

Hope Johnson stood in devastation Thursday as firefighters cleared debris from her fire-gutted store, the Amish Connection.

"Our 11-year anniversary was two days away," she said in a somber voice while peering into the scorched structure. "It's hard to believe."

Not only has the misfortune destroyed a historic structure, built around the turn of the century, but it may have stalled a long-standing effort by business owners in the area to revitalize the downtown core.

Sitting on South Toppenish Avenue, the store tied into a western theme that lured customers into other shops as well, said Dan Johnson, owner of neighboring Kraffs Clothing and past Toppenish Chamber of Commerce president.

"She really had a good business there," he said. "As far as that Amish furniture, people came from all over to buy that stuff because it was high quality."

Fire officials estimated the total loss at more than $1 million, but store owners didn't have a figure on the inventory.

Due to smoke damage, Kraffs Clothing also lost all of its inventory, which consists of Pendleton blankets and coats and western wear.

About 200 rolls of roofing material were cleared from the area. During the past few days, a new roof that required application using a heating flame was being installed on the building.

However, fire officials aren't jumping to conclusions and the state fire marshal's office is investigating, Toppenish Fire Department Capt. Tim Smith said.

"I don't know when we'll have a cause or a point of origin," Smith said , "This is one of the worst fires this town has seen in years and we are going to be taking our time with the investigation."

It's the second disaster the downtown has suffered in three years. In 2001, an electrical fire leveled Gibbons Pharmacy, located two doors down from the site of Thursday's blaze.

"It's devastating, but it isn't going to keep us down," said Dave Meyers, who owns the 88 Cent Store next to the Amish Connection.

Business owners said they're confident the store will return.

"I think she'll be back — she has too nice of a business not to be back," said Greg Gibbons, owner of Gibbons Pharmacy, whos store was damaged by fire three years ago. "We'll give her encouragement, assistance and get her going."

Hope Johnson built strong relations with Amish people in Pennsylvania and Ohio, where the furniture she sold came from, said longtime customer Christie Doonan, who manages Country Rose around the corner.

"She carries the most beautiful oak furniture that she would custom order for you," she said. "I mean, like, heirloom stuff. It's so sad."

When asked if he would rebuild, Rick Johnson shrugged his shoulders and said, "We sure hope so. We have great insurance, but I can't imagine what it will cost."

Firefighters responded to the blaze about 2:40 a.m., and at first couldn't see much due to heavy smoke and fog, Smith said.

Meyers and one of his tenants, who both live above the 88 Cent Store, were awakened by smoke detectors and called the fire department, Meyers said.

"There was so much smoke coming in the building, my renter thought it was our building (on fire) when he called it in," he said.

Though firefighters kept the blaze from spreading to other structures, both Kraffs and the 88 Cent Store suffered heavy smoke damage.

Kraffs will be closed until its loss is settled with the insurance company, said Dan Johnson.

"We'll have to liquidate all the merchandise in the store," he said. "We can't sell it at the regular price with that smoke smell on it."

Heat blew out the windows in the apartments above the 88 Cent Store and linoleum floors turned sticky.

"I mean my drapes are melted back there, that's how hot it was," Meyers said. "If it weren't for the aggressiveness of the Toppenish Fire Department, the whole block would have been gone."

"I'm just thankful that the neighbors didn't get any more damage than what they did," Rick Johnson said. "It's just something that you don't expect is going to happen to you."

Firefighters had to avoid power lines while entering the structure from the rear, Smith said. Crews were still removing rubble in the morning in order to extinguish lingering hotspots. Most of the crews left the scene between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. , but a few Toppenish firefighters stayed on scene until 5:00 p.m. putting out hot spots and going through rubble with state investigators.

The street was closed to traffic until 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

Now the reason why I put this in picture post . Pics

Note .... The fog was very thick and the dept photographer doesnt have the best of cameras he was pretty mad at the way most of them turned out

First view

K1500 going up

K1500 coming down

Smaller pics taken by the investigating team might come out looking distorted after blowing up

At 2:41 thursday morning toppenish city was dispatched to report of a structure fire at 5 washington ave unit #11 . Engine 11 was first out with one man upon arrival he reported that the fire was at a commercial structure around the corner from the dispatched address well involved, a defensive attack and requested additional alarm for more equipment and manpower he then proceeded to lay a 5" line from a hydrant at the corner of washington and s toppenish to where the apparatus was posistioned on the A side and pulled the 1-3/4" bumper line, both 1-3/4" speedlays and the 2-1/2" and 1-3/4" rear preconnects in anticipation for arriving crews.

Ladder 18 responded along with Engine 107 at 2:50. Ladder 18 arrived on scene with 3 personel including the captain , laid a 5" line from the corner of W 1st and s toppenish and proceeded to the scene to the A side to setup aerial operations and pulled 2-1/2" crosslay and 2 1-3/4" crosslays .

Engine 107 arrived on scene at the same time as ladder 18 with 2 personel ,laid a 5" line from the corner of washington and s alder and went around the D side of the building. 1-3/4" and 2-1/2" preconnects were pulled off 107 and taken around to the C side of the structure in a defensive attack to protect neighboring buildings.

Captain of Ladder 18 requested alarms for both Sunnyside and Zillah to assist . Zillah sent their Engine 11 with 4 personel and posistioned on the A side right beside Toppensih 11 and Sunnyside sent their Engine 11 with 5 personel and posistioned themselves on the D side right behind 107.

A strong defensive attack kept this fire from spreading to other buildings which are all connected on the 100 year old block .

The building is declared a total loss with damage estimates well over 1 million dollars .

Most apparatus cleared the scene around 0730 but L18 and E11 stayed on scene until 1700 along with the state fire marshall

MCourson · February 14, 2004

k1500chevy97 · February 14, 2004

I have got some videos up loaded .

Note ... Take it easy these are large files so dial up users not reccomended (unless you feel like waiting)

http://photos.imageevent.com/k1500chevy97/...Fire21204-1.mpg

http://photos.imageevent.com/k1500chevy97/...ire21204_2_.mpg

http://photos.imageevent.com/k1500chevy97/...ire21204_3_.mpg

http://photos.imageevent.com/k1500chevy97/...ire21204_5_.mpg

http://photos.imageevent.com/k1500chevy97/...ire21204_6_.mpg

LilC79Luv · February 21, 2004

I was shocked when I went driving through town the day after and seen that the buisness was gone .

Me and my wife have bought such lovely home furnishing from that place they had real high quality stuff I hope that they rebuild and get open as soon as possible . Hey I see our town was there GO ZILLAH !! ha ha

Those pictures are not the best. You guys had better get Jimmy a new camera take it out of that huge fund that the association has ha ha.

Have fun in Kent over the next week man I hope to see you come back sore and pi$$ed