Demolition of the back portion of the fire-damaged Twisp River Pub began last week.
Two investigations continue; arson is suspected cause
By Ann McCreary
The badly damaged back portion of the Twisp River Pub was torn down last week, while two separate investigations continue into the arson fire that burned the restaurant and brewery on Feb. 29.
Pub owner Aaron Studen said last week that he has “gotten unofficial word” that an investigation by his insurance company, Mutual of Enumclaw, “is getting towards the end, so things are looking up. The insurance company is hinting they’re going to release the hold” on paying his claim, Studen said.
“I’m feeling confident that we can go in and begin cleaning up,” he said.
Studen said he tore down the back portion of the building, which included office and kitchen areas, because it was damaged beyond repair.
“It has to happen, no matter what” the future of the building is, he said.
Studen said he received some money from the insurance company soon after the fire that allowed him to remove some of the debris
But the insurance company put a hold on any additional payment pending completion of an investigation that began in March.
A separate investigation headed by Twisp Police Chief Paul Budrow is waiting for the Washington State Patrol crime laboratory to analyze evidence from the fire scene that was sent to the lab ten months ago.
The primary piece of evidence is a digital video recorder that was part of the pub’s security system, Budrow said. There were at least four security cameras inside the restaurant, and the DVR may have video that could provide valuable evidence, he said.
“One [camera] we know was tampered with … it was moved from its original direction,” Budrow said. The camera had been turned away from the area inside the building that it was intended to record, he said.
“It had to pick up something before it was moved,” Budrow said.
The DVR was located in the pub’s office, where investigators believe the fire began. The device was badly damaged, and needs to be rebuilt by the crime lab to determine if any images can be retrieved, Budrow said.
“They need to take the hard drive out and see if it is functional and can get images,” he said. “If we have security camera videos, that will direct the investigation.”
Budrow said getting results back from the state crime laboratory can take many months for cases that don’t involve pending criminal charges or personal injury. He said he hopes he’ll be able to conclude his investigation by next summer.
Budrow said he recently received a large number of documents from Mutual of Enumclaw’s investigation that were provided to him by the company to assist in his investigation into the fire.
The police chief said he had not interviewed Studen yet in connection with the fire investigation, and sees no need for it at this point.
“The insurance people asked him all the same questions I would have,” Budrow said.
Budrow said he has conducted dozens of interviews as part of his investigation. “I still have one or two people who don’t know they’re going to be interviewed,” he said last week.
An excavator from Wildcat Ridge Excavating in Twisp began tearing down the charred back part of the pub building on Wednesday (Dec. 7). Studen said it was on the verge of collapsing.
Studen said the back of the building will be boarded with plywood for the winter. “The next job is to tackle the inside,” he said.
The front part of the building, where the restaurant and bar were located, was heavily damaged by smoke, and will require extensive repairs, he said.
“We have to remove all the furniture and clean it. The sheet rock has to come out. We will be taking it down to the framing.” He estimated the work would cost at least $100,000.
Hasn’t sold
The pub, which was on the market for about three years prior to the fire, has not been sold, although Studen said he is aware of rumors that have circulated about a potential sale. The property is still for sale, he said.
Studen said he would not try to restore the restaurant “because there are too many variables about whoever buys the building and what they might want to do. They could turn it into an office building.”
The pub’s beer brewing equipment survived the fire mostly intact, and Studen said he has sold it “to pay for the cleanup” that has been accomplished so far.
Most of the brewing equipment was purchased by Stormy Mountain Brewing in Chelan, he said.
Studen said he has retained his state brewer’s license.
“Reopening Methow Valley Brewing in a different location is not out of the question,” Studen said. “But it wouldn’t be a restaurant, it would be a brewery.”
The fire at the Twisp River Pub began at 2:30 a.m. on Feb. 29 and the back of the building was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived.
Among indications of arson was a pile of burned restaurant rags soaked in some type of accelerant that were found in the restaurant, in an area that was otherwise not burned, Budrow said.
A $10,000 reward has been offered for information leading to arrest and/or conviction in connection with the fire through the Arson Alarm Foundation, but that has not produced any results, Budrow said.
Studen rebuilt the pub at its location on Highway 20 after a fire destroyed his first restaurant and brew pub in 2001. That fire was caused by a propane hot water heater with a vent pipe that ignited combustible material in the ceiling.
