PRESCOTT, Ariz. (AP) — A two-alarm fire on Prescott's famed Whiskey Row destroyed at least three businesses before it was brought under control Tuesday night, authorities said.
The cause of the fire was unclear, said Lt. Andy Reinhardt of the Prescott Fire Department. However, he noted that some of the structures on the city's historic strip of downtown saloons, restaurants and shops were built more than 100 years ago.
Reinhardt said it took 60 firefighters and 10 engines about two hours to gain control of the blaze as crews responded from surrounding communities.
An employee at the Bird Cage Saloon noticed smoke about 6:20 p.m. and unable to find the source, got customers out of the bar and called 911.
Fire crews were unable to stop the blaze from passing through the roof of the Bird Cage and entering the Prescott Food Store and Larry & Hy's BBQ restaurant, the Daily Courier (http://bit.ly/KDYLS7) reported from the scene.
Reinhardt said the saloon and restaurant were "100 percent losses" with the food store "about an 80 percent loss."
Crews were working to put out hot spots and determine damages to other businesses along Whiskey Row on either side of the three structures that burned.
The 100 block of South Montezuma Street in Prescott has been called Whisky Row since before the turn of the century, when more than 40 saloons lined the street.
On July 14, 1900, the entire block of Whiskey Row was destroyed by a fire. The current structures were built between 1900 and 1905.
Prescott is about 100 miles north of Phoenix.
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Information from: The Daily Courier, http://www.dcourier.com
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