Several businesses destroyed in downtown Coeur d’Alene fire

COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — Several downtown Coeur d’Alene businesses were destroyed in a fire early Monday morning.

Coeur d’Alene Fire Department Public Information Officer Craig Etherton said crews were called to the scene near 4th and Sherman around 1:15 a.m.

Crews began fighting the fire from inside the building, but had to be evacuated due to the danger of the structure collapsing. Etherton said the roof fully collapsed and at least five businesses were affected. Schmidty’s Burgers, Heart City Tattoo and Cole Taylor Salon were extremely damaged. The building also housed Farmers Insurance and Emerge, but the extent of the damage to those spaces is unknown.

In a Facebook post, the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department said crews closed Lakeside between 3rd and 5th as well as northbound 4th from Sherman to Coeur d’Alene Avenue. Fire crews asked that the public to stay away from the area.

Fire investigators will assess the scene once the fire is under control and the structure has been deemed safe to inspect. A cause of the fire is not known.