Explosion, fires destroy hospitality, other business
By Paul F. Vang
It was a wild and terrible time in southwest Montana that first week in March.
On Thursday, March 5, an explosion rocked downtown Bozeman. Early the next day, on Friday, March 6, an earthquake jiggled seismographs, and a couple hours later another explosion ignited a fire in downtown Whitehall, all during a spring snowstorm that blanketed the area.
The Bozeman blast occurred just after 8 a.m., fortunately before many people had come in for work. But Tara Bowman, age 36, and a manager at Montana Trails Gallery, tragically was at work and her body was recovered from the wreckage several days later.
Thirteen businesses—including two MTA-member businesses—were destroyed, plus many neighboring businesses were damaged or, at least, disrupted. In both cities, several hospitality businesses were among those destroyed.
In Bozeman, as reported by Associated Press, investigators from the Bozeman fire department and the federal agency of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms determined that a separation in an underground natural gas line was the source of the explosion.
Bozeman fire chief Jason Shrauger said the leak occurred in an underground service line between the main gas line and the meter for Montana Trails Gallery.
“The leak allowed natural gas to migrate through the soil under the hard surfaces of the alley and enter buildings at an undetermined location,” he said. Investigators had not yet determined the cause of ignition.
Businesses destroyed were MTA member Boodle’s restaurant, Montana Trails Gallery, LillyLu’s children’s store, Tolstedt Architects, the American Legion hall, the Rocking R Bar (another MTA business) the Pickle Barrel, a restaurant housed inside the Rocking R, the Rocky Mountain Rug Gallery and Starky’s Authentic Delicatessen.
In addition, many other downtown businesses sustained broken glass and other damages, plus business shutdowns, as downtown Bozeman was cordoned off for fire fighting compounded by a temporary loss of electrical and natural gas utilities.
The Whitehall fire started with an explosion in a storage area of the Legion Street Grill in downtown Whitehall. The ensuing inferno destroyed the Legion Street Grill, as well as neighboring businesses the Mint Bar, Cottage Floral and Gifts, and DD Tax Service. Another business, Whitehall Drug, sustained heavy smoke damage, though a 14-inch common brick wall protected the building from the actual fire.
Pat Clinch, a deputy State Fire Marshal, made a preliminary investigation and determined that the explosion and fire started near a malfunctioning freezer in the storage room. There were no injuries reported.
Bozeman businessman and past MTA President Ralph Ferraro, owner of the Rocking R and a past president of the Montana Tavern Association, told Montana Tavern Times 10 days after the fire that plans for rebuilding are still up in the air.
“We won’t even be able to get in the building for another month,” he said, adding that insurance investigators are still combing the explosion area. Ferraro didn’t wish to make further comment because of the many unresolved legal and liability issues involved with the event, other than to note the loss of a young woman's life was paramount.
In Whitehall, as reported by the Montana Standard, citizens showed up at a community meeting just a few days after the fire to show their support for the affected businesses, including raising $19,000 in donations.
Jim Jacobson, a past Whitehall Chamber of Commerce president, invited owners of the Legion Grill to reopen in a previously closed restaurant he owns in the Borden Hotel. The owners of the Whitehall Drug opened a temporary store in another location, though they plan to move back to their original location after repairs and refurbishing are completed.
As for the earthquake, Mike Stickney of the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology in Butte reported the quake registered 4.2 on the Richter scale and was centered south of Whitehall at the edge of the Tobacco Root Mountains. There were no reports of damage from the quake, and there was no apparent connection with the fire in town.
The snowstorm? After a couple months of mild, dry weather in southwestern Montana, it was a welcome shot of moisture though a nuisance for Bozeman firefighters.
Editor’s note: The Tavern Times received these pictures via e-mail. An unsuccessful effort was make to determine their origin. We apologize for being unable to credit the original photographer.
Source: The Montana Tavern Times, April 2009, published monthly by Continental Communications, 125 W Granite, Suite 102, Butte MT. 59701