Pines Restaurant damaged in fire

By TOM LAVENTURE

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Ironwood — The co-owner of Pines Restaurant said she will be closed until repairs are made from damage caused by an apartment fire above on Sunday.

“We will be closed for a while,” said Janice Miskovich, who is co-owner of the restaurant with Susan Craumann. “The smoke and water damage from the upstairs apartment came into the restaurant and destroyed the ceiling.”

A news release from Ironwood Public Safety said the police and firefighting personnel responded to a 5:35 p.m. emergency call about an apartment fire above the restaurant at 120 S. Suffolk. Units responded to an active fire coming from the front apartment on the second floor with smoke coming out of the upstairs windows.

Hurley Fire Department also responded to the scene. The fire was contained by 5:55 p.m., according to Ironwood Public Safety.

A woman on the scene was prevented from going back into the building by law enforcement. Ironwood Public Safety said the woman was transported by Beacon Ambulance Service to Aspirus-Ironwood to be treated for smoke inhalation.

There are two apartment units above the restaurant, Miskovich said. The woman is the wife of the man who rents the front apartment where the fire began, she said.

The renter was not at home when the fire started, Miskovich said. The two are separated as far as she knew.

The American Red Cross could not be reached Sunday to learn if any residents are receiving emergency assistance and lodging.

As of 6:30 p.m. there have been no more updates on the fire, she said. The cause of the fire is under investigation and the fire marshall will be on scene Monday, along with the insurance agent, she said.

The restaurant, which is open seven days a week, was open Sunday until 3 p.m., Miskovich said.

The smoke and water damage has covered the booths, tables, chairs, cupboards, counter tops, dishes, decorations and curtains that were all installed in June as a renovation project for the restaurant that opened in 2001. The loss of power means that all food product will be thrown away, she said.

“There is a lot of damage,” Miskovich said. I don’t know how long we will be closed, I just don’t know. I am going to talk to the insurance and we will take it from there.”

There are around seven full time and part time employees that are also affected by the fire, she said. Once everything is cleaned up it may be easier to determine how long it will take to open again, she said.

“The sooner the better,” Miskovich said. “We don’t want to lose a business that has taken 20 years to build up.”

It doesn’t take long for people to forget you were there and go elsewhere, especially tourists from out of town who have no idea if a business is closed or not, she said.

“You can lose business as fast as you get it,” Miskovich said.