Fire Destroys Three Buildings in Downtown Covelo
[All photos and video provided by Jessi Alvarado]
Jessi Alvarado, a Covelo resident whose business is directly adjacent to the site of the fire, reported the North Fork Cafe and Western Auto Tire were completely destroyed, and the inside of the Round Valley Center of the Arts was badly damaged.
Alvarado said the loss of these businesses will greatly affect the Covelo community, “We are going to feel this loss and I hope to help rebuild quickly.” She added the North Fork Cafe was “our only dinner restaurant for many years. It had been open about 20 years.”
We have reached out to Cal Fire Public Information Officer Patricia Austin and have yet to receive a response. We will update this article with further information as soon as it becomes available.
UPDATE: 9:28 a.m.: Mendocino County Sheriff Matt Kendall informed us that MCSO is going to be working along side a Local Fire Investigation Task Force today to determine the cause and origin of the fire.
Sheriff Kendall mourned the loss of the North Fork Cafe as “one of the only restaurants left in Round Valley” and Western Auto Tire. He said, “These are businesses that have been serving the community for decades.”
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Sad news for the town of Covelo. Glad no one was hurt or killed in the fires. Thank you CalFire and the local volunteer fire department guys. Great job at stopping the fire from reaching the next building.
Valley art center was NOT damaged, it was destroyed.
And it was a beautiful Greek Revival building, once the Post Office. On the historic register. Had only just been purchased by a group of women who had the dream of turning it back into an art center, which it had not been for many years. So very sad. We can’t believe it’s all gone. Hearts are breaking here.
Appears there’s a definite pattern to remove all the structures out of Covelo. Last year(?) the Church and now these buildings. Who would benefit is the question to ask????
Ouch!
Damn. Hopefully (?) not arson. Good luck to the business owners and community.
Cartel retaliation from the recent busts? New Sheriff? Not a good omen, for sure.
This is a good theory. I think this is suspicious.
Cartels get raided so they burn the town down to show a message.
Question is will the sheriff do anything about it.
In this case, no, not cartel. In fact I have not heard of cartel starting fires, though for sure houses burn because drug deals go wrong. In this case – a sad, batshit crazy firebug, if it’s who they’re saying it is. We have had generations of them. The psychology of arson is too complex to go into here. But there needs to be stiffer punishment, for sure, covid or no covid. In most cases it’s the same revolving door. Sheriff Kendall, please take note.
Are you an expert on arson?
No, not an expert, not by by any means, but let’s just say we’ve had enough of it here in RV and in NorCal to prompt me to do some research. I have an interest in psychology, and I want to understand why people do things.
So where do you research? im sure a look into ones behavior patterens would help, but a hard thing to come by, with out a camera or any thing else, you resort the old way of arson investigation, that really dont work anymore, thats old school . being that it didnt start during working hours it was no accident. either sumbody was gunning for these folks or sumbody hired a torch, or maybe political, any thing could be, in this day an age. im not a johnny come latley ive been here for 75 years, how bout you?
Last time I was in covelo it didn’t seem like they had any businesses to spare.
A small local fire department doing mutual aide (I think it was Brooktrails- apologies to whoever if it was you instead) saved the Western Auto store. They climbed onto the roof and dismantled the cornice of the false front, which caught fire from the intense heat.
Thanks
That sounds heroic!
Sad place just got a lot sadder.
The people of Round Valley are like the phoenix: they rise stronger from the ashes every time.
Larger losses than this have not stopped the community; they’ll rebuild.
Sending prayers and love.
Very saddened to read of the loss of the North Fork Cafe and other structures. I loved the food there and hope Tekla Broz and her family will be surrounded with positive folks in the aftermath of this travesty.
WOW, I,m so sorry to hear this news. I remember when they opened that restaurant, it went thru so many owners before Denny got it right. Sorry to hear about this tragic incident. They’ll rebuild. Positive vibes coming your way Round Valley