A landmark restaurant in the North Country was destroyed by an overnight fire that quickly engulfed the building.
When fire officials arrived at the Mooseland Grill shortly after 11 p.m. Sunday, the flames and the heat were so intense they were forced to fight the fire from a distance.
"I can't even believe it," owner Dawn Dameron said. "It's like looking at a movie. It's not even real."
Owners Dawn and Bruce Dameron said that they were in shock after seeing their business burn down. They locked the doors at 10 p.m. and received the call about an hour later that the building was on fire.
About 55 firefighters battled the intense fire. The building went up so fast that there was little they could do except stop the flames from spreading to a propane tank behind the restaurant.
"There was no way we're putting this out," Deputy Chief Dick Vinal said. "We had all kinds of tankers and a hydrant feed, but it was just a mass of flames when I got here."
The building has been a fixture in Twin Mountain for decades, first as a store and inn, and then eventually evolving into a restaurant. The popular eatery was a destination for skiers, hikers and locals.
Residents came to the site all day Monday, unable to believe that the local landmark is gone.
"I'm really sad for Bruce and Dawn," resident Lavina Pilotte said. "These people worked hard, and they had really good establishments. The food was excellent."
"It's a popular place," resident Roy Ramsdell said. "The owners are well liked by everyone in town."
The Damerons spent the last eight years building the business up. They said it was more than a place for people to eat.
"I definitely want to rebuild," Bruce Dameron said. "A lot of people come here. It's a local place. My intentions are to rebuild."
Investigators were still trying to determine the cause of the fire.
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