COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho — On Tuesday, the Idaho State Fire Marshal’s office began investigating the fire that destroyed the beloved Wolf Lodge Steakhouse. The fire started Monday afternoon and the building is a complete loss.
The property is fenced off at Wolf Lodge as the State Fire Marshal's office investigates what started this fire. It will take a few days before we learn the official cause, but at this point, Kootenai County Fire and Rescue says it appears to be accidental and not suspicious.
Several fire agencies gave it their all to save this iconic western steakhouse that stood for more than 85 years. The years of memories in this special place are now piles of char and ash. “[It's] a lot of history here that went up in flames that won’t be retrieved,” Julie Bauman, a Wolf Lodge customer, said.
That history is what brought long-time customers back here throughout the day to catch a glimpse of what’s left. “[I] just wanted to see what had happened,” Judy Sergeant said.
Over the years, Wolf Lodge served up many family celebrations. “Anytime we wanted good food we came down and celebrated holidays,” Bauman said.
Customers like Bauman are stunned by the still smoldering debris. “It’s unbelievable how it just collapsed,” Bauman said.
It’s not an easy sight to take in, and certainly one that will take some time to mourn. “You know, I don’t think you ever get closure,” Bauman said.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire. They took photos and videos of the property and later moved debris to find the fire’s origin. Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Chief Chris Way says all this information will help investigators piece together what happened here. “They’re trying to gauge a timeline of how the fire progressed and where the fire was by the time 911 was called," Way said.
Way says Wolf Lodge was not open to the public when the fire started. He says management was hosting their annual appreciation bbq for its staff.
The owners aren’t ready to speak publicly, but they’ve thanked the community for its support online.
Among the lost memories, a piece of beauty stands out among the debris, with flowers left by a heartbroken server.
“I hope everything turns out for the best for them," Bauman said.
We know the assistant manager suffered second-degree burns. We also learned they were released from the hospital on Tuesday.