Investigators, owner sift rubble for answers

Questions remain about condition of burned out buildings, future of business

As fire investigators combed through the charred remains of Schuette-Daniels furniture in downtown Burlington Sunday morning, owner Matt Daniels, his employees and members of his large family searched for answers about the business’ future.

The two buildings that house the business — which has been a fixture in Burlington since 1929 — were ravaged by a five alarm blaze Saturday night that was fought into the early hours of Sunday morning by firefighters from throughout the area.

Obviously shaken, the soft-spoken Daniels said the first step was to assess the extent of the damage. Only then, he said, could he and his family begin to make plans for the future. Daniels gathered with his siblings, children and employees in front of the store before 9 a.m. Sunday as contractors boarded up windows, firefighters pumped water from the building’s basement and investigators looked for clues to the origin of the fire, which was reported at about 9:30 p.m. Saturday.

Daniels said he had been through what remains of the two buildings that comprise the high-end retail store. Even the areas to the north that were least impacted by the flames were left soot-covered, melted or water-damaged, he said. The most extensive damage was in the historic 1895 building at 413 N. Pine Street, which appears to be where the fire started. That building, Daniels said, appears to be a total loss and it remains to be seen what can be salvaged of the main building at 425 N. Pine Street.

The volume of water that remained in the basement was incredible, he said.

Daniels said he has had contact with the business’ insurance carrier, but wouldn’t know more until later.

In a press briefing late Saturday night, Mayor Bob Miller said the loss of Schuette-Daniels — however temporary — would have a huge impact on the city’s downtown.

Fire investigators as well as City of Burlington Police Chief Peter Nimmer were on the scene Sunday morning, but an update on the cause of the fire was not immediately available.

Please see the April 10 print edition of the Burlington Standard Press for full coverage of the fire and its aftermath.