Saskatoon Fire Department investigators got a clearer picture in the daylight hours of just how destructive the fire at Bonanza Steakhouse restaurant on 8th Street East was.
Crews received a call at 10:38 p.m. CT on Tuesday for a report of a structure fire.
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Four engine companies, an aerial ladder and a rescue truck were dispatched.
Firefighters initially started an interior attack but went on an exterior attack when the ceiling fire was found to be burning through the roof.
A second alarm was sounded after 45 minutes.
Crews were able to gain an upper hand with the additional resources and attempted unsuccessfully to re-enter the building and continued with a defensive attack.
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According to fire officials, crews battled the blaze for six-and-a-half hours.
“Including our investigators that are still on scene today, we’ve committed a total of 78 persons to this incident and at various durations of this evolution we’ve had 19 vehicles or apparatus on scene,” Wayne Rodger, assistant fire chief of communication for the department, said.
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Three-quarters of the building was destroyed.
Fire investigators believe it started in the kitchen but have yet to determine a heat source that sparked the blaze.
On Wednesday, a damage estimate was still being determined.
All staff were able to get out of the restaurant and no injuries were been reported.
Bonanza Steakhouse owner Gary Baba said if there is anything positive that came of the situation is that no one was hurt.
Baba has been with Bonanza for 34 years and just recently celebrated his 21st anniversary as owner at the 8th Street East location.
“It hurts, the heart hurts. I mean, it’s not just for myself. I have 55 staff members,” Baba said.
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Out of the province at the time of the fire, Baba said he thought it was a joke when he first received the phone call.
He drove throughout the night from Edmonton, arriving at 4 a.m. on Wednesday where half the staff was waiting in the parking lot to greet him.
“Nobody wanted to leave, they weren’t leaving until I got here,” Baba said.
“That’s when you know you’re loved and I loved them all.”
WATCH BELOW: An emotional Gary Baba, owner of Bonanza Steakhouse, describes the impact of the fire that destroyed his business
Carol Kidd arrived on scene and was visibly shaken by what she saw. She said she grew up working at Bonanza and met the love of her life there.
“Everybody was family, people that I worked with back then have sent their kids to work for us and it was kind of neat to see all that and keep in touch that way,” Kidd, who was a co-owner of the restaurant until two years ago, said outside the heavily damaged building.
“Just the memories of getting together, learning the staff, watch them grow, go to some of the weddings, it was a very special place.”
According to Baba, this was one of only two remaining Bonanza’s in the entire country and with the exception of Christmas Day, the restaurant was open every day of the year.
When asked if he will rebuild, he said he would just take things day-by-day and a much needed discussion with the landlord would have to take place.
He also couldn’t imagine life without spending his days and nights at Bonanza or his connection with customers and staff.
“It breaks my heart it does, it’s home.”
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