By Genevieve Judge, Local News 8 Reporter
MONTPELIER - Just after 10 a.m. Wednesday morning a popular eatery and gathering place for lots of locals and tourists burned to the ground in Montpelier. Left behind are nearly 20 people who are now jobless and years of memories.
When 25 firefighters from Bear Lake County and the City of Montpelier got to the Butch Cassidy Restaurant and Saloon smoke and flames were already coming through the roof.
"Did an interior attack but we had a hard time getting through all the old remodels and ceilings and it was just difficult to get up to where the fire was,” said Assistant Fire Chief Rick Merritt, Montpelier.
After trying to fight the flames from the inside, the roof caved in so firefighters took on the blaze from the outside. Mary Ann Green worked as a server for more than eight years at Butch Cassidy's. Memories are all she has left.
"This was our home. We were a family. It was a fun place to work. We all got along,” said Green.
Employees of the poplar hot spot gathered to reminisce and take pictures on their cell phones of what's left of their home away from home. Jean Stott was coming to work when she saw the flames.
"I went home crying and told my husband I don't have a job anymore. But you know what? I can get a new job. What I’m going to miss is my family up here,” said Stott.
For the employees that worked inside the Butch Cassidy Restaurant and Saloon in Montpelier say it’s hard enough losing their jobs. What is even harder is watching their memories go up in flames.
"10 years of our life just burned up in two seconds. I don't know what any of us are going to do for a job. Right now I’m numb. I'm numb. I think tomorrow it will hit me when i come back over. I don't know. I'm just sick,” said Green.
"The place won't be the same but I hope if he does rebuild that all the other employees come back. Because we can have our family back then,” said Stott.
Employees here say working wasn't a job because they were surrounded by family. They're left trying to figure out where to go from here.
"We all have special memories in our hearts that we can hold and glad that we have. I have a lot of good memories of Butch’s. A lot of good memories,” said Green.
The State Fire Marshal's Office will be at the remains Thursday morning to begin an investigation into the cause for the fire. At this point, firefighters think the fire started somewhere in the roof or attic but an exact cause hasn’t been determined.
