Whispering Pines landmark burns

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The building that once housed the 4 Nicks burned early Monday. Photo courtesy of Voris Brumfield.

 


COBB MOUNTAIN – A building that once was a well-known restaurant and bar burned down early Monday morning.


The building, located along Highway 175, once housed the 4 Nicks, JB's and Brewsky's, said South Lake County Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Jim Wright.


Wright said the district received the call that the building was on fire at about 1 a.m. When firefighters arrived, the roof already was fully engulfed and the fire was lighting up the sky.


Three engines – one from Cal Fire and two from South Lake County Fire – along with two South Lake water tenders responded to the fire, along with about 15 firefighters, said Wright.


Also responding were Lake County Sheriff's deputies, California Highway Patrol officers and Caltrans staff, who controlled traffic on the highway as firefighters worked to put out the blaze, Wright said.


Because the area has no fire hydrants, Wright said firefighters used the nearby Whispering Pines Resort pool as a water source.


The fire was contained within about an hour, said Wright, with the fire completely out by about 6 a.m.


Between 5 a.m .and 5:30 a.m. Highway 175 was completely reopened so morning commuter traffic was able to move through, he said.


The building's upstairs is gone, with the downstairs remaining, but Wright said the structure is a complete loss. He didn't have a value estimate on total damages Monday.


Wright said the fire does not appear to have been an arson.


A generator had been used in the upstairs to power an adjacent cabin, he said. The fire “appeared to have started upstairs in the area of the generator.”


The building, which he said had been vacant for several years, had at one time looked like a log cabin, but recent remodels had added a stucco exterior.


A travel trailer adjacent to the main building that sustained minor damage, said Wright. No injuries to firefighters or anyone else were reported.


County Code Enforcement Manager Voris Brumfield said the building was red-tagged at 7 a.m.


E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..


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