SEQUIM –– Firefighters spent much of Monday afternoon battling a blaze that destroyed the building that was home to Baja Cantina and Sequim Consignment Co. at 820 W. Washington St.
With fire crews from Clallam County Fire Districts Nos. 2 and 3 and from the Port Angeles Fire Department at the scene, Fire District No. 3 spokesman Patrick Young said the building was probably a total loss.
“The roof has collapsed over both businesses, and we’ve got guys up there continuing to spray it down,” Young said.
(EDITOR’S NOTE — Video of the fire, produced by Ed Evans of KSQM radio in Sequim: http://stg.do/dpPg )
Young said officials had not yet been able to investigate the cause of the fire.
Bucket trucks from Fire District No. 3 and Port Angeles Fire Department sprayed the building from above with 2,000 gallons of water per minute, Young said.
Firefighters were called out to the fire around 1:15 p.m.
There were no injuries reported from the fire, though Young said one person who was inside the building when the fire started was treated for smoke inhalation.
Linda Diesen, owner of the building, said it was insured against fire.
“But that doesn’t replace all that heart, sweat and tears we put into it,” she said while watching the firefight.
Diesen bought the building, valued at $590,165 by the county assessor, in 2004.
She said she spent much of the past decade renovating the building.
For decades, it was the site of the Red Ranch Inn restaurant and lounge with exterior decor matching the ranch-style motel to the west.
The motel was unharmed.
Fire and police crews closed off West Washington Street at Seventh and Ninth avenues after responding to the blaze.
Westbound traffic on the main street was rerouted north down Seventh Avenue to West Hendrickson Road and south up Priest Road back to West Washington Street.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Joe Smillie can be reached at 360-681-2390, ext. 5052, or at jsmillie@peninsuladailynews.com.
