Blaze heavily damages popular North Lewiston eatery

July 23--A Tuesday evening fire that smoldered in the back of one of Lewiston's iconic restaurants did enough damage to temporarily shutter the business and send 14 Rusty's Ranch Cafe employees to the unemployment line.

Lewiston interim Fire Chief Travis Myklebust sent nine units to the fire at Rusty's Ranch Cafe, at 2418 North and South Highway, after a neighbor, Tony Hazelwood, saw smoke rising from the back of the business at approximately 7:35 p.m. and called authorities.

Hazelwood said he stepped out of his house on nearby North Seventh Street to smoke a cigarette when he noticed smoke pouring from the back of the business.

"It was popping back there and then smoke started pouring out," Hazelwood said. "The whole front was covered in smoke."

Firefighters entered through a door in the back of the business and were confronted with heavy smoke. Myklebust said there were no flames because the fire hadn't worked its way to the front of the building, where it could get oxygen to erupt into a conflagration.

"It's a cinder block building," he said. "The fire was deep enough into the structure, so it hadn't gotten a lot of oxygen."

The fire likely started in the kitchen area at the rear of the building, he said. It caused extensive smoke damage throughout the structure, in addition to water damage that resulted from rooting out the fire at its source.

"There's heavy fire damage," Myklebust said. "They probably won't be opening any time soon."

Firefighters remained on the scene into the night as the cause of the blaze remained under investigation.

Wayne Hoyt, who has owned the business for 22 years, said his insurance would likely cover the loss.

The restaurant known for its 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. business hours and big breakfast menu was a favored gathering place before he bought it in 1992, he said.

"It's been a pretty popular restaurant," Hoyt said.

He told employees who lingered in the parking lot Thursday evening, watching fire crews push hoses through the building's side door, that the business was closed.</p>

"We're closed until further notice," he said. "I don't know how long it's going to take."

Bartholdt can be contacted at [email protected] or (208) 848-2275.

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