CALDWELL, Idaho (AP) -- A fire at the home of retiring Canyon County Sheriff last week burned thousands of dollars in musical equipment.
George Nourse plays guitar in a six-piece country band called ``Skinny Minute.'' In his spare time, he has been building a rehearsal and recording studio next to his home in Caldwell.
Unfortunately, the longtime lawman was awakened about 4 a.m. one morning last week to see flames erupting from the structure.
It appears an amplifier was left on overnight and caught fire, spreading to a wall and then to the rest of the structure.
``I can tell what happened by looking at the fire damage,'' the sheriff said.
There were no injuries in the fire. But the studio was not yet insured. Nourse hopes his liability insurance will cover the cost of the equipment owned by fellow band members.
The group had worked on an album all summer. But band members will now have to re-cut their hard work because the computer drive with the recordings was destroyed in the fire, Nourse said.
``It's a big personal loss,'' he said Friday. ``It's almost like being robbed.''
Nourse said he owned $45,000 to $50,000 worth of equipment in the studio. The recording equipment alone is worth $5,000 to $6,000, he estimated.
Some of Nourse's friends plan to rally the community to help the soon-to-be-retired sheriff.
The Nampa Eagles Club will host a benefit dance and some restaurants around the county have set donation jars out on their counters.
Chief Criminal Deputy Chris Smith was elected to the county's top law post in November and will assume office next month. Nourse served the past 12 years as county sheriff.
