(Arnolds Park)– Damage from a fire this (Friday) morning at an Arnolds Park restaurant is described as being minor.
Arnolds Park/Okoboji Fire Chief Chris Youngbluth says firefighters were called to Bluewater Cabaret around 9:57 a.m. Youngbluth says the owner smelled smoke upon entering the building. She notified her son, who investigated and found a fire burning in the attic area. Efforts to put it out with a fire extinguisher weren’t successful. At that point, the Fire Department was called.
Upon arriving Youngbluth says smoke could be seen coming from the building, but there were no flames. He says not knowing for sure yet what the extent of the fire was, Youngbluth says the Milford Fire Department was then called for assistance as a precaution.
Upon further investigation, Youngbluth says they determined the source of the smoke was from a short in some flourescent lights that caused an arc, causing some wood siding to smolder. Youngbluth says they put some water on it and quickly had it out.
He says it’s fortunate in that it was discovered when it was. He says the fire could have been much worse if it hadn’t been caught when it was.
Damage is estimated at about one thousand dollars.
No injuries were reported.
Firefighters were on the scene about an hour and 20 minutes.
The Arnolds Park/Okoboji Fire Department was assisted by Milford Fire and Rescue; the Arnolds Park Police Department and the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office.
