Kern County firefighters battled a massive blaze on Monday that leveled Trout’s honky-tonk, a historic nightclub in Bakersfield.
Firefighters were called to Trout’s for a reported fire in the alley, by the time crews arrived, the fire had already consumed close to a quarter of the structure.
Still, Renan Polanco, who owns the Country Kitchen Family Dining restaurant next door, said the fire may have been started by homeless individuals who frequently gather in the alley between the two buildings, according to a report by Bakersfield.com.
Trout’s opened in 1945 and was a landmark in Bakersfield that hosted live music most nights of the week and was known for its hard working customers.
Some Trout’s memorabilia has been preserved at the Kern County Museum, including a section of the original bar and a chandelier according to Bakerfield.com.
