Clean-up operations continue in downtown Salt Lake City where a blaze ripped through several businesses.
Three firefighters suffered minor injuries battling the fire that started in a restaurant and quickly spread to other buildings, Salt Lake City Fire Chief Karl Lieb told abc 4.
Early estimates put the damage at nearly $5 million.
The buildings date back to 1920 and have been culturally significant to the community for decades, officials say.
Jason Lecates, owner of Whiskey Street and White Horse, told reporters: “It’s a kick in the gut. It’s really hard to digest. A business you’ve built with your bare hands, to have it grow to such a successful, iconic part of Salt Lake City; to have not only one business destroyed but two in one night is pretty hard to swallow.”
Lecates added that Whiskey Street was home to one of the world’s largest whiskey collections, with thousands and thousands of bottles.
In the midst of his dispair, firefighters' gesture made a difference.
“It survived and it was really kind of special. The firefighters pulled it out, folded it and gave it to us. Hopefully, it’ll give us some inspiration to hang it up soon.”
