Noxon fire investigation continues

by Annie Wooden and

Shannon Brown

The investigation continues into a fire last week in which three Noxon businesses were destroyed. The state completed its on-site investigation last week and Noxon Fire Chief Jim Byler said insurance investigators were due in this week from out of state.

Nearly 100 people attended a public meeting Saturday at Noxon School to hear an update about the investigation into the fire that destroyed three businesses in the community earlier this week.

Byler called the meeting in the school multi-purpose room in order to address rumors. "This meeting was to ease minds about arson," he explained. He said he has been watching social media and "everybody needs to get along, calm down and let the investigators do their job." Byler said the state fire marshal's office has gathered evidence and that out-of-state insurance investigators are scheduled to be in Noxon on Monday. "As it stands, nothing points toward arson," Byler stated. "It's at the state level. Let them do their job."

No cause has been determined for the blaze, which destroyed the Angry Beaver General Store, Toby's Tavern and the Noxon Mercantile in the early morning hours of Tuesday, Feb. 27. "We had 29 guys and 13 trucks there," Byler stated, thanking the firefighters from Noxon, Heron and Trout Creek, as well as local ambulance crews, for the work they did to distinguish the fire.

Eric Pfleger of the Sanders County Sheriff's Office said that Sheriff Shawn Fielders has been in contact with the fire marshal and the governor's office. He noted that insurance investigators now have to complete their review of the scene. "If the fire is determined a criminal act, the Department of Criminal Investigations will be notified and they have special investigators," Pfleger said, adding that Sheriff Fielders has been looking at relief efforts with the governor's office.

Chief Byler addressed questions about any connection Tuesday's fire had with the January fire that burned the Hereford just west of Noxon. "The cause of that fire has not been determined. It is still under investigation. Everybody needs to calm down," he said.

Both Pfleger and Byler said that if anyone has any information on the Noxon fire or photos, they can call the Sanders County Sheriff's Office at 406-827-3584, or contact the state fire marshal's office. Byler noted that the investigation could take months to complete. "If you have anything of a criminal nature, call the sheriff's office," Pfleger said.

Sanders County Commissioner Tony Cox attended Saturday's meeting as well. "Anything that the county can do to facilitate or help, we will try to help," he stated. "Hopefully out of the ashes at least Noxon would get a store. We need to keep the community together and work together to bring the community back." Cox also asked the community members to remember that it is private property, and it's up to them whether or not they want to rebuild.

A resident asked about the status of Noxon's annual Fourth of July parade and activities. "The Fourth of July parade is on. No matter what, it will happen," Byler stated. "My concern is that everyone gives up and leaves. My thing is to not let Noxon become a ghost town. I'm not going to let that happen."

Various fundraisers have been formed to help the business owners and employees of The Noxon Mercantile, Angry Beaver General Store and Toby's Tavern. Angry Beaver owner Teresa Jackson and her fiance, Walter Borgmann, both stated that they have already decided to rebuild the store. "We're going to do everything we can to rebuild," Borgmann said. Jackson said that Borgmann was remodeling the upper level of the Angry Beaver when the fire occurred, and lost several power tools in the blaze. Though the public was interested in when the rebuilding effort would start, Borgmann stated that they can't do anything until the investigation is done. Borgmann also thanked the local first responders for their efforts.

Chad Campbell with Senator Jon Tester's office attended the public meeting and stated that the senator is contacting economic development organizations to see if help is available. Jackson, who bought the Angry Beaver General Store in January 2023, also stated she has been in contact with Sanders County Community Development to research disaster relief.

"The first 24 hours we all felt lost," said Grace Kast, the board secretary for the Noxon Senior Center, said.

"Thursday morning distributor trucks showed up to deliver to the store and bar. Imagine what they saw and thought. Nobody could think about canceling the deliveries," said Sherry Sutherland, a lifetime Noxon resident and President of the Senior Center. Many people in Noxon depended on those businesses for their groceries. Some people did not go out of town to shop, she said.

Donations have been showing up at the senior center. "People have brought in food donations that they must have stopped and purchased from places like Town Pump. Personal donations," Sutherland said last Thursday. Other donated food items have come in from Hot Springs and Harvest Foods in Thompson Falls, Sutherland added, and there will be a big donation arriving from Mike and Melanie Olsen from Washington that will contain dried goods, pet food and paper products. "They have a Noxon connection," Sutherland said.

The board members at the senior center have set up a fundraiser they call the Noxon Strong Recovery Fund. "We got our own tax I.D. number just for the fundraiser and there will be t-shirts and mugs to buy. Businesses will be setting out donation jars too," Sutherland said.

Fire Chief Jim Byler commented that he would like people to stop posting any negative comments on Facebook. "People need to stop spreading rumors of arson. The reason I have specialists coming in to investigate is not because I believe that arson took place, but because with a fire of this magnitude, we need more help in determining the cause." Byler also commented that he was grateful for congressional candidate Monica Tranel showing up and giving support.

Sutherland posted a quote from Henry Ford on Facebook: "Coming together is a blessing, staying together is progress, and working together is success."

HOW TO HELP

NOXON SENIOR CENTER - The center will be open at least once a week to offer groceries to residents. Sherry Sutherland said Saturday that they have received a lot of donations. "We're here to help people that need help right now," she said during the public meeting. The center will be open 3-6 p.m. Tuesday, March 5.

ANGRY BEAVER GENERAL STORE EMPLOYEE FUND - Owner Teresa Jackson set up a fund to help employees. "I now have 4 employees from the Angry Beaver General Store without income or jobs until their unemployment starts which as we all know takes a few weeks and it's half of what you normally make. Anything helps and we are overwhelmed with joy for the support from our community and we thank you," she wrote on the site.

SPAGHETTI FEED - Friends of Jackson have organized a spaghetti feed fundraiser for the business owner and employees. The fundraiser will be Saturday, March 23, at the Lakeside Event Center in Trout Creek. Dinner is $10 per person, donations will be accepted and a silent auction will be held. To donate an auction item or help, contact Jamie McKenzie at 406-499-2321 or Jamee Quigle at 406-291-1809.

NOXON STRONG - A donation account has been set up at First Security Bank to help the business owners' recovery efforts. Organizer Tim Wanamaker said Friday that donations can be made at any First Security Bank location, or through the Noxon Strong GoFundMe website, https://www.gofundme.com/f/noxon-strong-recovery-fund. Wanamaker said the priority for donations will be the cleanup efforts at the fire location, then helping the business owners with recovery efforts.

NOXON STRONG ITEMS - Northwest Landmark Real Estate is collecting donations for business owners affected by Tuesday's fire, as well as the Hereford Bar & Grill. Donations can be mailed to PO Box 1556, Noxon, MT 59853. The real estate office is also offering custom hats, cups and t-shirts with a "Noxon Strong" logo on them, with 100% of proceeds going to business owners and employees. Order sheets are located at Johnson Hardware, Aitken's Quik Stop in Noxon and Northwest Landmark Real Estate, or call the office at 406-847-2557.

BORGMANN TOOL REPLACEMENT - Jackson also has created a GoFundMe page to help her fiance, Walter Borgmann, replace tools that were lost in the fire. https://www.gofundme.com/f/ryan-borgmann-recover-tools-lost-in-noxon-fire

If there are any additional fundraisers for this list, please email [email protected].