Fire investigation continues at The 122

The tedious work of sorting through the ashes continued Wednesday in the rubble of The 122 Bar and Restaurant.

Bainbridge Island Fire Department Assistant Chief Luke Carpenter said investigators were slowing working their way through the remains of the popular downtown bar, but added that it's still doubtful that the cause of the two-alarm fire will be determined this week.

"They're trying to sort through everything that came down, basically, and see what's at the bottom of it," Carpenter said.

"It's kind of like working a puzzle backward to get to the origin," he said.

"They're trying to look at it and figure out, 'Here's how the fire behaved.'"

The 122 was engulfed in flames by the time firefighters arrived just after 4:30 a.m. Monday. Flames nearly 30 feet high shot through the roof of the building shortly after nearby residents called 911 to report the blaze.

No one was hurt in the fire, including more than 35 emergency personnel from four fire-fighting agencies that were called to the scene.

Investigators have not ruled out potential causes of the fire, including lightning from the massive storm that rolled through Puget Sound early Monday.

"Right now we're not pointed in any particular direction. That's what makes it slow," Carpenter said.

It's meticulous work, he added.

"You have to start at the roof, because the roof has fallen in. You start there and work your way down," Carpenter explained. "It's just digging and shifting and looking."

Contact Bainbridge Island Review Editor Brian Kelly at editor@bainbridgereview.com or 1-206-842-6613.

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