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and ARIZONASENTINELTelephone 783-3333Yuma, Arizona Wednesday, June 3, 198125 CentsmorningBy BOB WERLE YThe Yuma Daily SunWell, there goes a landmark,” said one Fisher’s Landing resident this morning as he looked at the gutted restaurant-bar-store that had served for 25 years.The 40x60-foot structure overlooking the lake which shared the Fisher’s Landing name was lost in a fire that was believed to have started about 12:30 a.m. today. Loss of building and contents could amount to $200,000.Residents gathered around the fire site this morning as sheriffs deputies sifted through the charred interior.Don Fisher, whose father Jess first opened the landing in 1948, said residents of the area had started a volunteer fire department last year. It was still in the infant stage. The truck we got had a rusted out water tank so that is being replaced now. But the way this fire went I doubt it would have done much good.” Yuma Proving Ground sent two fire trucks, a tanker and a rescue truck. No oneWeather/ 102°High today ..........................102Low tonight...............................71High tomorrow 106High yesterday••«•••••».»*«■•••••••■•••»•»••••*• 101Low this morning 7011 a.m. temperature ................... 8811 a.m. humidity..............................30%Average high this date......................98Average low this date........................67Yuma-area forecast: Sunny and warm and breezy today Winds variable 5-10 mph morning and evenings but southwesterly 10-20 afternoons. Sunset 7:42 Sunrise 5:31was hurt in the blaze.The bar had closed around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, said Fisher. The fire was discovered by Les Rowell, a visitor from El Cajon, Calif. He was at the dock and ran to the pay phone in front of the burning building. Rowell couldn’t give a complete report of the fire because of the heavy smoke engulfing him.Fisher, who lives nearby, said he was called about 1:15 a.m. ”1 came down the hill and she was burning through the roof. It was so damned hot. 1 noticed the butane tanks (some 30 yards from the building) and thought if they go it will clean off this whole place. They’d just been filled with 1,000 gallons. Fortunately they didn’t go.”Karl Ackerman, an employee, said the flames were climbing 35 to 40 feet in the air. What was really spectacular were the white sparks shooting all over the place. There were some explosions.” Pointing to a hole in one of the block walls Ackerman said, It must have been some kind of gas.”One section of the building was built in 1956 and the last part in 1963. Owners of the building are Don Fisher and his wife Joni along with Swede and Louise Ferguson Leasing the building is Don Olsen of Olsen’s Market Place Stores. He had the bar, restaurant and market along with the gas dock. There was no damage at the gas or boat dock.This morning Fisher noted, This place has been my-whole life. I feel devastated, but I'll tell you one thing, we’re not gonna quit. We're thinking of setting up a spot at the bait and tackle shop for a temporary store. We could also close in the ramada.” His wife Joni was pouring coffee from a pot sitting ont he hood of a truck. We’re open forContinued on Page 2Total lossDon Fisher and his wife Joni gaze at pie gutted Fisher's Landing structure this morning. Co-owners ofthe building, the Fishers live nearby and watched as the market-restaurant-barstructure was destroyed by fire around 1 a.m. today. Don Olsenoperated the businesses. Fisher's Landing has been located at this spot since 1948. Inset photo shows fire damage lookingfrom the dock area.(Sunfotos by Bob Werley)
Newspaper Details
Yuma Sun
Yuma, Arizona, US
Wed, Jun 03, 1981
Page 1
Full Page
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USA 15 May 2019
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