Another big fire in small town MT

[ChiOCat]

What used to be "the bank" in Eureka caught fire around 4 AM Thursday morning and burned completely. There was also a robbery at the pharmacy in town that night so suspicion is that the fire was set as a diversion. A few months ago a small fire was set and 3 business were burglarized. My mom worked at the bank when I was younger and I have so many memories of roaming the bank after hours while she finished up work. I vaguely remember it being built so the building was ~30 years old.

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Glacier Bank President Bob Nystuen said the company’s Eureka branch is a total loss after an early morning fire tore through the building early Thursday morning.

The cause of the fire, which was reported at about 4 a.m., is not known. No one was in the building at the time and no injuries have been reported.

Eureka Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief John Hannay, still on the scene along U.S. 93 at about noon Thursday, said the fire caused the roof of the building to collapse.

About 20 volunteer firefighters fought the flames and several still were directing water to hot spots Thursday afternoon. U.S. 93, which runs through town, was temporarily closed and traffic was rerouted but it was reopened Thursday morning.

“It didn’t take long and it was all gone,” said Nystuen, who is out of the area on business but is helping coordinate the recovery effort.

Nystuen said the bank’s 11 Eureka employees will remain on the company payroll; some of them are operating out of the Eureka branches of the Whitefish Credit Union and First Interstate Bank.

Glacier’s competitors are offering assistance and providing space and resources for customers and staff of the burned bank. Nystuen said a search is under way for a temporary or permanent place for the branch to relocate.

“Our competitors have opened their doors to us and our customers at a time when we need aid and assistance and we’re happy about that,” he said. “That’s what they do in Eureka.”

Nystuen said no irreplaceable documentation was lost in the fire, and that he suspects a vault prevented any cash from being destroyed. The money is federally insured in either case, he said.

A security company has been hired to protect the site, he said.

“I just want to send a big message of appreciation to our responders and thank everyone for the support,” he said.

A satellite office owned by Whitefish-based law firm Hedman, Hileman and Lacosta also was destroyed in the fire, according to attorney Clif Hayden. He said the office was generally used as a location for attorneys to meet with clients in the area, and that the firm likely will borrow space and continue operating nearby.

Ahhhh, home