SKYKOMISH, Wash. — An early morning fire that destroyed the historic Whistling Post Tavern in Skykomish is being investigated as arson, and the fire may have been set to cover up a crime, a King County fire investigator told KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reporter Michelle Millman.
The investigator said it was believed that a burglar cut open the tavern’s cash machine, took $3,300 and then may have set the fire near the cash machine to cover up the crime.
Three agencies fought the blaze, which sent one firefighter to the hospital with a second-degree burn injury to his hand, said Captain Janasz from King County Fire District 50.
The fire alarm came in around 4 a.m. When firefighters arrived they found the building fully engulfed in flames, said Janasz.
Firefighters attempted an interior attack but were forced to back out of the building and fight the fire defensively. The roof collapsed soon after, said Janasz.
A medic unit took the injured firefighter to Harborview Medical Center, said Janasz. The extent of the firefighter’s injury was not known.
The Whistling Post Tavern is located on East Railroad Avenue in Skykomish, which is just south of the King-Snohomish County line.
According to the Skykomish Historical Society website, the tavern building was built by a train engineer in 1897.
Whistling Post owner Charlie Brown said he is still in shock over losing the building his wife bought 32 years ago, because to them, and so many others, it was more than just a tavern.
“This was a bar. A place to grab coffee, pop, watch the Mariners, Seahawks – talk to each other, sit around,” said Brown.
“The memorabilia and the trophies and all the historical stuff in there from over 100 years ago is irreplaceable,” said neighbor George Simanis.
KIRO
