Fire destroys TF business

A Thompson Falls business was destroyed in a fire last Saturday. First responders received a call about 11 p.m. Saturday that Genki Asian Cafe on Main Street was engulfed in flames.

According to Neil Harnett and Kevin Whittenburg with the City of Thompson Falls Fire Department, one of the main concerns in fighting the fire was keeping it from spreading to adjacent buildings. Emergency crews had personnel constantly watering down surrounding buildings, especially the First Baptist Church directly next to the restaurant. The fire department had men on the roof of the church keeping the fire at bay. Another concern that arose later in the night was the immense tax on water quantity. The top gun on the fire engine alone spits out 1,250 gallons per minute and was in constant use for over an hour. Responders had to contact the city in order to make sure the city's water supply could keep up with the need. The Thompson Falls City Police aided the fire department in clearing the surrounding buildings and assisted with hose operations.

No information was available about how the fire started. According to fire officials, no other buildings were damaged in the fire.

One witness, Pastor Jeff Phillips of First Baptist Church, expressed his great appreciation to the first responders. "The police, officer Roy and the fire department were there to make sure that everyone was safe, and the church was safe. There are not enough words to show our gratitude."

Genki owner Jerry Lai was sleeping in his apartment in the basement of the building at the time of the fire. He said that he had been sleeping about two hours when he heard a knock on his door. When he opened the door, he was rushed out of the building.

Lai said that witnesses told him they saw sparks coming out of the corner of the building, in the dining room area.

Lai said he left the building only with the clothes on his back. He said neighbors and residents have reached out to offer help. He has a mobile trailer which he operates his business out of for fairs and festivals. That was not damaged in Saturday night's blaze.

This is not the first fire to occur at the Main Street location. The same block burned down in circa 1909, when a couple of bar brawlers knocked over a lantern. In those days, fires would spread from one wooden building to another, often engulfing an entire town. Years later, the town developed an ordinance requiring buildings to be constructed in brick, or nonflammable components.

According to Harnett and Whittenburg, Lai will be contacting his insurance company, who take the lead in determining the cause of the blaze.