More photos below
The Wapiti Steak House building that is located next to the temporary Wapiti Post Office trailer (just west of the Buffalo Bill Reservoir) burned to the ground Tuesday night. The building was a total loss. The property had been listed for sale the past couple years. A new listing had it priced at $549,000.
We came upon the scene about 8 pm and it initially looked like the fire department would at least save the shell of the building. But smoke kept billowing and then flames broke out under the soffet which showed the fire had reached the rafters and attic, dooming the building.
A small crowd of onlookers looked on, both fascinated and horrified. The heat radiated all the way across Hwy 14-16-20. A fire department offical thought the fire started in the basement. The fire seemed to break through the rear roof first, casting an eerie orange glow over the building. A firetruck parked right in front, shining a spotlight on the front of the building which displayed the word "WAPITI" over the front doors. Firefighters attacked the blaze through those front doors but it then flared to the left and right sides of the building, with sensational explosions and eruptions out 3 windows on the right side, including a small basement on that side of the building. When the flames broke through the front roof and the building was 100% ablaze, a firefighter could be heard telling everyone to pull back and stand down.
Burning embers set the nearby trees and grass on fire for about 20 minutes before firefighters beat it down. Another firefighter hosed down a large propane tank directly next to the right (west) side of the building, preventing it from exploding.
The building had three peaks and the right side collapsed first. Then the left. Finally, the center peak, sporting the name WAPITI, tilted to the right and tumbled into the blaze.
We left about 9:10 pm as the fire was still roaring, the building totally collapsed, worried that the propane tank might explode. Six photos below (some computers might have to scroll right)