Buffalo Chip Saloon fire called 'suspicious'

Dustin Gardiner , Megan Cassidy | The Arizona Republic

The Buffalo Chip Saloon and Steakhouse, a Cave Creek landmark known for its live bull riding and Green Bay Packers fandom, was in ashes Thursday morning after a fire tore through the wooden building.

Colin Williams, a spokesman for Rural/Metro Fire Department, said crews first responded to a "suspicious fire" in the bathroom of the saloon at about 7:10 a.m. After that fire was extinguished, arson investigators from the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office were called to the scene.

Flames were spotted again sometime before 9:17 a.m., when investigators noticed smoke and and flames coming from the roof of the building, Williams said. Firefighters were called back to the scene and mounted an all-out effort to save the restaurant and dance hall, part of a cluster of Western bars and shops that line the town's historic main drag.

“When we were out here earlier this morning, we saw obvious reason to call the arson investigators with the Sheriff’s Office," Williams said.

"Somebody meant to do harm to the Buffalo Chip."

Arson investigators are now working the case. Williams said it's unclear whether there's a connection between the bathroom fire and the attic blaze that ultimately destroyed the building. He said firefighters had cleared the scene after the first incident.

More than 100 firefighters and about 25 trucks from multiple Valley fire departments fought to save the building, but the flames quickly spread. Capt. Aaron Ernsberger of the Phoenix Fire Department said crews continued to drown out hot spots late into the morning, calling the saloon "a total loss at this point.”

“It’s a huge loss and a big blow to the community around here," he said as the building smoldered.

Williams said one firefighter who suffered minor injuries was taken to a hospital. He said the saloon had no sprinkling system and was highly combustible given it was made primarily of wood and was filled with Western-style wood furniture.

Dozens of bar patrons watched Thursday morning as flames leaped from the roof and a thick column of black smoke poured into the sky. Many took to social media to mourn the loss of an iconic watering hole and dance hall.

"I can't believe Buffalo Chip burnt down," one patron wrote on Twitter. "Thankful for so many great memories filled with great music, friends and food."

The bar, which opened in 1951, had planned to host an all-day Thanksgiving feast and show the Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears Game on Thursday. Since the 1980s, Packers fans in the Valley have flocked to the Buffalo Chip, which calls itself Lambeau Field West, after Green Bay's stadium.

Owner Larry Wendt hosted a celebration for the bar's 60th anniversary in 2011, noting it had grown from a one-room bar to almost eight times its original size and evolved into a Wild West experience. Originally known as the Maverick, the establishment has seen about a handful of owners before Wendt took the helm in 1999.

Wendt could not be reached for comment.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio was en route to the scene shortly before 4 p.m.

Arpaio said Wendt was a veteran of the Sheriff's Office prior to getting into the private business about a decade ago. Wendt was a patrol captain until 1993, when Arpaio promoted him to run the jails.

Arpaio said he spoke to Wendt on Thursday morning and that the owner was "in shock."

"It's a very sad situation," Arpaio said. "We're going to do everything we can to see who is responsible."

Cave Creek Mayor Vincent Francia called the loss "heartbreaking."

"It's where we all learned to do the Texas two-step," he said. "If you're a Packers fan, it's where you go to root for the team."

Francia said he met with Wendt at the scene while firefighters were still battling the flames.

"Larry was putting on a good face for all of us, but you could tell he was certainly holding back a great deal of emotion," Francia said. "As far as a town, I told him we will do everything to get him back on his feet as quickly as possible."

Bill Mulliniks, a regular at the saloon for more than 25 years, watched the plume of dark smoke from outside his home in nearby Carefree. He said he the bar was a gathering place for residents and visitors of all sorts, whether they arrived on a horse or motorcycle.

"It was a landmark and obviously it’s well known throughout the Valley," Mulliniks said, describing the barbecue menu and Western bands. "It was always entertaining, always a good time."

Wendt posted a message on the bar's website: "Pray for the Buffalo Chip family staying together," he wrote. "We will do our best to take care of everyone."

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