Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
A path through the debris is cleared by investigators May 28. Upper left: Investigators confer with Fonk's owner Amy Warwick.
COLFAX – Fire investigation resumed last week at the Fonk's building in Colfax, then shut down again due to a partial second-floor collapse and shift in the building's walls.
The building was closed-off again and tear-down may begin this week.
"We're working with companies to get that building taken down as safely as possible," said Joel Warwick, co-owner. "We're trying to hurry to get that done."
He gave a target of no later than Monday, June 8.
Demolition companies now confer with private fire investigators on how to take down part of the building – to make it safer – then stop to allow investigators back in to finish their work.
Then the demolition would continue.
"The fire started in the kitchen, they're just not sure what piece of equipment started it," said Steve Bretveld, Colfax building inspector.
Warwick indicated the possibility to save the lower floor brick wall and/or the building's facade is still in play.
INVESTIGATION RESUMES
A team of 14-15 private fire investigators gathered on the second morning of the resumed study May 28, after the remainder of Fonk's second floor came down early that morning, apparently by coincidence. Subsequent laser measurements of the building's foundation suggested it was unsafe to be inside.
"If they'd have been in there three days earlier, they'd be done with this already," said Warwick.
The work was shut down before a verdict.
"Really no new status," said Tony Nuttman, lead fire investigator for Pullman Fire Department, who was on site the two days. "I'm just there to assist and see what we can find. They're running the show."
Investigators came from more than one insurance company, representing the Fonk's building as well as Bruning Funeral Home across the alley in back and the neighboring Main Street building (which most recently housed the "Leftovers" shop).
"They said it was unstable and for everybody to get out, and we got out," said Nuttman.
NEXT STEPS
Nuttman suggested the private investigators will now call in a structural engineer to determine what the next step is. He was also joined on scene by Darren Jones, another Pullman F.D. fire investigator.
Before the change in stability of the building, it was expected to be turned back over to the Warwicks May 28 – after the initial investigation was delayed from the week after the March 17 fire because of COVID-19.
"It's definitely an ongoing battle," said Warwick. "It's already depressing enough with what everyone's dealt with in 2020."
The second floor remainder which fell was a 14-foot wide wood section spanning the 50-foot length of the front of the building.
It crashed in the early morning hours of May 27 and was heard across the street.
Since the fire, the Warwicks have been on hold with plans to re-build and re-open Fonk's coffee shop on the site – still with the possibility of salvaging part of the building.
"The front facade would be neat to see on a new building," said Warwick, the director of operations for Sport Town, an apparel company that used much of the building as a warehouse.
One item pulled out by investigators last Thursday was a charred cookbook used by Amy Warwick in preparing food for Fonk's - some of the book still readable.
"It's just something that gives you a little hope," said Joel.
The timing is now unclear when investigators may be able to get back inside to finish.
The fire caved in the roof of the two-story building and burned-out the first and second floor. The basement was unaffected.
"It would be nice to move forward, that's for sure," said Warwick. "It's been a lot of time put in already but it's not showing in the building."
Also due to initial fire damage, the Leftovers store has since been cleared out, the owners waiting for word of when, or if, it is safe to move the merchandise back in and re-open.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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