|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lightning strikes Coffee Corner building, starts fire
|
|
|
|
By Andrew Kuehl
akuehl@kewaskumstatesman.com
KEWASKUM- A month after a remodeling project, The Coffee Corner Bistro was closed on Tuesday, July 3 due to a fire, caused by a lightning strike shortly after noon. The fire displaced two families in two apartments in the building. Jessica and Tony Trunkel who own the building and the popular coffeehouse say they plan to re-open within three or four months.
Ann Enright of Boltonville was having lunch across the street at Woody’s Steakhouse. She recalled seeing lightning strike a TV antenna on the roof of the Coffee Corner. “It sparked, some people came outside from the apartment, and then went back inside. The lights were on inside the Coffee Corner so we didn’t think it was that bad,” she stated.
A minute later her and another diner, Linda Gavin saw smoke come out of the roof. Enright said she called 9-1-1 while Gavin rushed across the street and told people at the Coffee Corner that smoke was coming from their roof. Patrons were immediately evacuated from the building without any injuries. The tenants were also evacuated.
The Bistro was full of patrons according to Patti Langlois of Racine, who was dining inside with her husband. She recalled hearing and feeling the crack of the lightning.
The Kewaskum Police and Fire Department responded to 102 Main Street in the village, at around 12:15 p.m. to find smoke billowing out of the rooftop of the two-story 1860’s structure. Full mutual aide was received from the Boltonville Fire Department around 12:20 p.m.
Severe weather with lightning and heavy downpours of rain did not help efforts to contain the blaze. Over two inches of rain was reported during the four-hour storm.
The entire downtown area was shut down as deputies from the Washington County Sheriff’s Department and members of the village’s Department of Public Works handled traffic. Traffic was re-routed for over three hours.
In took firefighters about two hours to extinguish the flames. Two apartments in the structure were the hardest hit in terms of lightning strike.
One of the units, located above the coffeehouse received the most damage according to Jessica Trunkel. An adjacent upper/lower unit received mostly smoke and water damage. The coffeehouse received the least amount of smoke and water damage. The entire building will need remodeling due to the damage.
According to Trunkel, the fire was mostly contained to the rafters of the building and the apartment directly above the coffeehouse.
She along with her husband, Tony, and Coffee Corner manager Connie Schulist, are mostly concerned with the apartment tenants who lost everything in the fire. The three say they plan to do some fundraising to help get them back on their feet. “We’re hoping we can place coffee cans at area businesses so patrons can donate their spare change,” reported Jessica Trunkel. They also plan to hold a raffle, however details are still being ironed out.
The two tenants had children ranging in age from 8 months to 17 years. Anyone wishing to help these families with household items or clothing is encouraged to contact the General Store Antique Mall at (262) 626-2885 or drop items off. They are located at 1277 Fond du Lac Avenue,
(The corner of Fond du Lac and Forest Avenues.)
Cindy Gruber, who purchased the building with her husband David Gruber, opened the Coffee Corner Bistro in 1996. The building was recently purchased by Jessica (Gruber) and Tony Trunkel, who are now the owner/operators.
The landmark building at 102 Main Street was once home to The American House, The Corner Drug Store and Kennelly Pharmacy to name a few. Before being purchased by the Grubers, the building was vacant for over a decade.
|
|
|
|
|
