BY ELAINE STIEB
Lake Orion Review Editor
Six buildings destroyed in last week’s fire in downtown Lake Orion will be demolished.
According to LO Village Manager JoAnn Van Tassel, village engineers Hubbell, Roth & Clark and the state’s building inspector Phil Dodd have concurred the structures are unsound.
After the fire, Orion Township Fire Chief Jeff Key was up on a crane and saw that bricks on the buildings were crumbling.
‘I’ve talked to Bill Siver (village council president) and he said our number one concern should be public safety,? Van Tassel said.
Several of the facades were braced with wood on Friday morning. Parts of buildings were ready to collapse.
People worked all night (using big flood lights), in the rain, on Thursday to clean up the area.
‘Everyone pitched in and helped out,? Van Tassel said. ‘A company helped put CJ’s back in business. Thanks to their quickness, it was able to reopen and get things done.?
Van Tassel has been in touch with Oakland County seeking financial help for the businesses that were damaged. She’s also in the process of putting together a meeting for the owners that will include the state building inspector, state historic preservation office, loan and financial institutions.
She estimated the cost of the fire at between $1.5 million to $2 million.
‘This is a devastating loss. It took out a popular restaurant, a destination for people throughout southwest Michigan,? Van Tassel said.
‘It (Sagebrush Cantina) was a draw for the whole community. People who came shopped at other businesses.
‘I’m really heartened by people in and out of the community offering help. Lake Orion is a caring, giving community.?
Rev. Tom Macaulay of Lake Orion’s United Methodist Church opened the church’s doors for residents who were temporarily displaced by the fire.
Van Tassel said one of his parishioners, who lived in the Verwood Apartments, needed some prescription medicine and a police officer went into the building to retrieve it.
According to Van Tassel, several businesses called and offered employment to Cantina employees until the restaurant reopens
‘It was unfortunate this had to happen, but we didn’t have the high winds (that happened on Friday) and the weather was warm enough so that the water didn’t form any ice,? she added.
Van Tassel expects to meet with Orion Township Fire Chief Jeff Key and Orion Township Supervisor Jerry Dywasuk this week to see what can be learned. A final report on the cause of the blaze is expected in 10 days. He estimated there was about $1 million in damage to the historic buildings.
Preliminary indications are the fire started in the kitchen of the Sagebrush Cantina. Dispatch started receiving multiple 911 calls around 7 a.m.
‘The fire spread quickly into a vent and into the ceiling. These buildings are all connected with a common ceiling,? Narsh said.
‘The real loss to the community was the loss of the thriving businesses that were housed in those buildings. The good news is that no one was injured.?
Detroit Edison was also at the site restoring power. It came back on at 11 p.m. on Thursday. Narsh was impressed with the quick response of the utility company. It even managed to set up a new pole.
The American Red Cross and Salvation Army were at the fire site early. The Salvation Army passed out refreshments to the emergency workers.
According to Narsh, the American Red Cross was able to get the fire site classified as a disaster area.
‘A crew of 10 coordinated emergency relief. As many as 22 families were displaced. By 4 p.m., displaced families were offered vouchers for motels, food and any lost clothing and medicine,? he added.
‘I was also impressed with the behavior of the crowd. They were very understanding about us shutting down parts of the town and extending the safety zones.?
Narsh said he had talked to Dia Zarga, owner of the Sagebrush, and was optimistic the community would be ‘eating salsa and fajitas? at the new Sagebrush by fall.