Fire destroys iconic eatery

By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — An Aroostook County icon was destroyed by fire late Sunday night, when the Elm Tree Diner received extensive fire damage.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
ICON DESTROYED — The Elm Tree Diner on Bangor Street was destroyed by fire late Sunday evening. Fire gutted the inside of the building, closing the doors to one of the areas landmark restaurants.
    The diner, which employs 26 people, is closed until further notice. Whether it re-opens, is a decision owner, Gary Dwyer must now wrestle with.
    “The support has been tremendous,” Dwyer said. “So many people have come by and told us ‘Please rebuild.’”
    Will that rebuilding take place?
    “It’s too soon for me to say,” Dwyer said.
    Dwyer said he had to meet with the insurance company and insurance adjustor before he could formulate his next move.
    According to Houlton Fire Chief Milton Cone, the fire originated in the ceiling of the kitchen and was most likely caused by an electrical problem.
    “It appears to be electrical in nature, but the specific source of the ignition could not be determined,” Cone said. “Upon our arrival, fire was coming out of the kitchen window and front of the building. Due to the fact that it was a business and the extensive smoke, heat and water damage, the state fire marshal’s office was called in to investigate.”
    Tim Lowell and Greg Day of the state fire marshal’s office, were on the scene Monday and determined the fire started in the kitchen, near the ceiling.
    The fire was reported at 11:50 p.m. when Mike Parks, an employee at Hogan Tire, was called to the tire business across the street from the diner. Parks was called to Hogan Tire to investigate an alarm at that establishment, but found nothing there.
    What Parks did find, however, was the fire across the street as he heard the sound of a window breaking and smoke billowing from the kitchen area of the Elm Tree Diner, according to Cone.
    The fire was under control within 50 minutes, but firefighters remained on the scene until 1:45 a.m. Cone said efforts to completely extinguish the fire were difficult due to the fact that renovations completed at the  diner over the years had  created  inaccessible places for the fire to persist. A total of 23 men responded to the fire. No injuries were reported.
    Cone said he spoke with staff members of the diner, who informed him that the grills and fry cookers were shut off at 8 p.m. and the last person left the building around 8:45 p.m. with no apparent signs of trouble.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
ON THE SCENE — Houlton Fire Chief Milton Cone, left, gives instructions to two of his firefighters Sunday night at the Elm Tree Diner. The building received extensive damage to the inside, forcing the restaurant to close its doors.
    “The building was secure when we arrived so it did not appear to be suspicious,” Cone said.
    Dwyer said Monday afternoon that he was still in shock from it all. He has owned the popular eatery for about two years. Employees of the diner were at the scene Monday afternoon helping Dwyer sort through the wreckage.
    “We are trying do everything we can to help our employees right now,” Dwyer said.
    The Elm Tree Diner opened in 1945 and has been “the” place in Houlton for meals, deserts and coffee for decades. Dwyer purchased the establishment two years ago and expanded the eating area to accommodate more customers.
    “It’s a difficult time for everyone,” said restaurant manager Nancy Manton. “We are trying to help everyone get through this. It was close to midnight when I got the call and I was in total disbelief. We’ve put our hearts and souls into getting this place going. We had come a long way.”