A historic castle-like building in Sioux City was heavily damaged by a weekend fire. Authorities say flames were shooting through the roof of the former Normandy Restaurant when they arrived shortly after 6 A.M. on Saturday. George Lindblade is the photographer for the fire department and was one of the first to reach the landmark.
“When I got here, the first fire companies were just arriving, I only live two blocks from here,” Lindblade says. “The place was fully engulfed. Flames were 10 to 15 to 20 feet coming out of the steeple. It was pretty obvious the building was going to be a total loss.”
The building had several distinctive turrets with pointed peaks. Lindblade says the former restaurant was being remodeled into an art gallery and had several works of art already inside. “It was going to be an art consortium,” he says. Various artists were already renting space in there and doing their artwork. He says firefighters were able to rescue much of the art, though it likely suffered smoke damage. A dance studio and martial arts business attached to the building was also damaged. No injuries are reported.
(Reporting by Woody Gottburg, KSCJ, Sioux City)