Update: Fire Marshal Investigates Cavour Fire

by Jill Johnson
January 07, 2013 6:50 PM


A bar in eastern South Dakota is boarded up and closed to business. The building, along Highway 14, went up in flames early Monday morning causing heavy damage to the structure.

In the town of only 114 people, Highway 14 Roadhouse, served not only beverages, but was one of the only places to get a bite to eat.
     
Fire Chief Josh Kogel said, "It's been here as long as I can remember."  

But on Monday it too was boarded up. Cavour Fire Chief Josh Kogel says at around 5 a.m. they got the call that the brick building was on fire.

"When we got there there was flames showing out the windows and heavy smoke," said Kogel.

A total of 17 firefighters battled the blaze. But to get to the flames, crews from both Cavour and Iroquois had to get through a false wall first, something they had to peel away with chain saws and pry bars.

Kogel said, "They had done some improvements to it to cover up the old building that didn't look very good. They just boxed it in and there was a foot and a half of empty space."

And when they were able to get inside crews had a lot more to deal with than just flames. Motorists were driving through their barricades.

Kogel said, "Traffic on Highway 14 and just the ice and keeping things from freezing."

The fire was under control within a half-hour, but the damage was already done.

The State Fire Marshal is investigating the cause of the fire. However, the owner of the bar says he was told by the fire marshal that it was most likely caused by the wood burning stove inside. He told us he has owned the Highway 14 Roadhouse for about five years.