A fire early Saturday gutted a building that houses a well-known restaurant and tourism businesses on San Juan Island’s waterfront in Friday Harbor.
Fire crews responded about 2:40 a.m. Saturday, with additional firefighters ferried in from Anacortes and from Orcas and Lopez islands, KOMO-TV reported. The building near the state ferry landing houses Downriggers Restaurant and several other businesses, including Friday Harbor Marine, Friday Harbor Yachts, San Juan Safaris and San Juan Excursions.
“There were flames at least 20 or 30 feet high coming out of the building at one point,” said Carolyn Hudson, spokeswoman for San Juan Island Fire and Rescue.
No one was injured in the blaze but the building appears to be a total loss — a big hit on the local economy, especially because the restaurant employs about 50 people, Hudson said.
“It couldn’t have happened at a worse time,” said Pete Ancich, who owns San Juan Excursions, a whale-watching operation.
August is one of the busiest months for the company, Ancich said. The business expects to continue to operate normally, sending out their scheduled three tours.
The destruction of the businesses has a large impact on the community of 2,000 people. “People were coming up to each other and hugging in the street,” said port director Marilyn O’Connor.
With file from The Associated Press
