Big Fire in Downtown Nevada City, CA

Radio | March 20, 2002 | EggsAckley

[EggsAckley]

No details yet, but it was just announced on the radio that there is a huge fire in downtown Nevada City CA.
Apparently, the whole downtown area is involved.

[EggsAckley]

This is a developing story. I don't live there, but am fond of that little gold-rush town,
and hate to think of it being destroyed.

Hope I've posted this "correctly."

[Doomonyou]

Just heard an update, they are trying to save the whole downtown area, pretty nasty fire, no injuries reported.

[EggsAckley]

Thanks. A little news challenged here.

[notpoliticallycorewrecked]

No NO NO NO NO NO!

This just can not be. I used to live there. It is a beautiful little town in the Gold country.

[EggsAckley]

Sorry. But it's really happening. The latest report didn't sound good.
They think they're losing the whole downtown. What a drag. It's a cute little town. ;o(

[notpoliticallycorewrecked]

Is the National on fire?

[Dan Cooper]

There are some details here:

BREAKING NEWS! - Fire in Downtown Nevada City

It doesn't sound as bad as the first reports, but it looks like a friend's Deli was probably destroyed :(

[EggsAckley]

Thanks!

[farmfriend]

Graduate of Nevada Union High here. Where did you live up there? Mom e-mailed me about this. I guess it was Friar Tucks Restaurant as well as "Off Broad Street" (they put on really good plays).

[farmfriend]

Anything to add?

[notpoliticallycorewrecked]

I haven been trying to reach my Mom to let her know. She will be devastated. I was upset, but am calming down now that I know that it isn't the National, the NC theater, or the white church that is the landmark in so many postcards. You have mail.

[wingnuts'nbolts]

This makes me want to cry. I worked at the Alpha Store across from the National Hotel for years managing the furniture dept. We lived on Red Dog Road. What a lovely place. The history is rich. All those buildings are tinder boxes. This would not be the first time in the town's history that it burned down. I am so sad to hear this.

[wingnuts'nbolts]

The pictures make me nostalgic! Pine Street gets it's name because it originally was planked with pine so the wagon wheels didn't sink in the mud. Fryer Tucks was a really good restaurant. Wonderful all kinds of fondu.

[sourcery]

NUHS 1974 here. What was your year?

[farmfriend]

'81. Just a youngster. Did you know Rod Baggett took over the chior from his father?

[farmfriend]

From a subsequent e-mail:

Just lost two buildings, (they shared a wall) but there is probably at least water damage to more. At this point, fire under control. Because of the way the town is built and the age of the buifldings a fire downtown is always very scary. Called in fire trucks from Placer County - news said they had fifty (50) trucks on scene so they were prepared for anything. Problem is the water pressure in Nevada City.

[notpoliticallycorewrecked]

They could have drafted out of Wolf Creek with a pumper truck. That what we did when I was on the FD in Oakhurst. We would draft out of a pond, lake, creek canal or even a swimming pool.

[sourcery]

No, I've been out of touch with the happenings in Nevada City city since the early 80's. Once my friends and relatives had all moved away (or deceased), I seldom visited anymore. Last time I was there was for the All-year NUHS reunion in September of 2000--and that was the first time I'd been there in 8 years.

Let's see--'81. So, do you know or remember either John or David Jackson?

[farmfriend]

Here is the Sacramento Bee write up on the fire. Great pictures.