Early morning blaze guts historic Sutter Creek restaurant. No injuries reported
Fire in the early hours Friday destroyed a restaurant in the heart of historic Sutter Creek in Amador County.
No one was hurt.
Flames consumed the former Sutter Greek Restaurant on the city’s Main Street about 1 a.m. as fire crews from Sutter Creek, Ione and Amador County fire departments and Cal Fire worked to control the blaze.
A person living in an apartment atop the restaurant was awakened by a fire alarm just as the fire broke out and was able to escape unhurt, said Tom DuBois, Sutter Creek’s city manager.
“It went pretty fast,” DuBois said. “The building was fully ablaze by 1:15 a.m.”
Crews were able to contain the fire and stop its spread. Neighboring buildings received minor damage. DuBois remarked on the historic buildings’ wooden construction and close proximity to one another, crediting firefighters’ quick work to stop further destruction.
“We’re very thankful that it was contained. All these buildings touch each other,” DuBois said. “It could have been much worse.”
The building, like so many along the town’s historic Main Street, dates back to the 1800s. All of Sutter Creek is designated a state historical landmark.
“It was a lot of the charm of historic Main Street,” DuBois said. “Now, we have a gap.”
The restaurant had recently closed and had been put up for sale, but equipment was still stored inside, DuBois said.
Photos posted to social media by the Amador Ledger-Dispatch show the blaze in full force and its gutted aftermath; the building, blocked off by traffic pylons and fire engines, a total loss. The fire closed Main Street between Randolph Street and Hanford Alley for hours, Sutter Creek Police said.
Reaction on social media to the blaze was swift. Tacy Oneto Rouen’s reaction was typical.
“This is truly sad for our beautiful town and its history,” Rouen, Amador County Auditor, posted to Facebook. “People who live nearby have posted that they woke up to loud popping noises and then saw the fire. Hopefully, investigators can find the cause.”
The fire remains under investigation.
This story was originally published October 11, 2024 at 11:28 AM with the headline "Early morning blaze guts historic Sutter Creek restaurant. No injuries reported."
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