Los Hermanos in Provo a complete loss after fire, unknown how long it was burning
Los Hermanos is pictured on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, in Provo.
Caution tape is pictured on the sidewalk near Los Hermanos, which was severely damaged by a fire on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, in Provo.
A crew cleans debris from the Los Hermanos restaurant Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, in downtown Provo. A fire began in the Mexican restaurant's basement the night before and the building will likely be considered a total loss, according to Dean York with the Provo Fire Department. Isaac Hale, Daily Herald
A fire burns at the location of the Provo Los Hermanos restaurant on Monday, Feb. 11, 2019.
Icicles hang from Los Hermanos on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, in Provo.
Los Hermanos is pictured on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, in Provo.
A fire burns in downtown Provo in the building that houses the Los Hermanos restaurant on Monday, Feb. 11, 2019.
A fire burns in downtown Provo in the building that houses the Los Hermanos restaurant on Monday, Feb. 11, 2019.
The damaged front of Los Hermanos is pictured on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, in Provo.
Determined to start again, Craig and Lisa Witham, owners of the Los Hermanos Restaurant that burned down in Provo Tuesday, say they are already putting feelers out for a new location.
The Los Hermanos Restaurant, an icon of downtown Provo, and offices above the restaurant were deemed a complete loss from a devastating fire that ravaged the building on Monday.
“Los Hermanos and the above offices and the main floor are now sitting in the basement,” said Capt. Dean York, of the Provo Fire Department. “They are now cleaning that out to get to the source of the fire.”
As of Tuesday afternoon, investigators had not been able to get to the source of the fire or determine the monetary loss to the building and inside furnishings and work stations. Water filled the complete structure standing.
“Today we are just struggling,” said Lisa Witham, co-owner of the restaurant. “We’re in shock it happened so quickly. Last night we sat behind the restaurant in our Suburban and we prayed. We are determined to start again.”
Witham said the restaurant has about 60 employees. “They are the greatest employees. They are dedicated and loyal and are sticking with us.”
There has been a huge outpouring from people all over the country, Witham said.
There have been some small tender mercies, Witham added. The large stained glass window that hung in the front of the restaurant they have had for 30 years, the antique cash register and the old upright piano at the very front of the store all appear to be salvageable.
According to York, the fire started in the basement where there was a prep kitchen, banquet room for parties and a laundry facility.
Buildings to the west of Los Hermanos received damage from the water and smoke; it is not known the total cost of those damages.
York said Good Thyme Eatery at 63 E. Center St. and the building at 77 E. Center St. received water damage. Apartments over Good Thyme at 63 East received smoke damage.
The building east of Los Hermanos, the Historic Provo Library built by funds from the Andrew Carnagie Foundation, was mostly likely saved from damage because of a fire wall between the buildings, York said.
Buildings to the west were evacuated twice Monday night. The second time Utah Transit Authority volunteered the use of a bus for people who had been evacuated to stay warm, according to York.
In reference to UTA bringing a bus, York said, “We do a program of live fire training and we invite outside agencies to participate. It pays huge dividends.”
All five fire stations in Provo, two from Orem and one from Springville responded to the fire, according to York. Provo Police were on hand throughout the night to clear public buildings.
“When we pulled everyone (firefighters) out of the building and went defensive we had five ladder trucks spraying 1,000 gallons of water a minute for over an hour to put the fire out,” York said.
“Initially we felt like we got this, but you have hidden voids in the walls,” York said. “It’s hard to know how long the fire was going.”
York said it reminded him a great deal of when the Provo Tabernacle burned in December of 2010.
“It’s a little like the tabernacle fire burning for some time,” York said.
One firefighter sustained a shoulder injury from a fall down stairs in the building. He was treated at Utah Valley Hospital and is now home resting, York said.
The age of the buildings was an immediate concern for firefighters. Most of them are more than 100 years old and are not equipped with smoke detectors or sprinkling systems. Los Hermanos had neither.
A GoFundMe account has been set up under Los Hermanos Provo Fire, to help owners Craig and Lisa Witham with expenses.
