Fire did extensive damage to the Ephraim Inn, on Poplar Street in the Village of Ephraim. The Ephraim Fire Department was paged shortly after 7am Monday and the first unit on the scene found flames shooting from the roof of the building. Northern Door fire departments responded with mutual aid from Sister Bay-Liberty Grove, Gibraltar, Jacksonport and Egg Harbor. The Sturgeon Bay Fire Department stood by at Egg Harbor, just in case. The fire was under control by 11am and fire fighters were back at the station by 2:30.
About half the building was damaged, but the owners living quarters were spared. They were out of town at the time, but returned to the village by mid day. Fire fighters were assisted by the Red Cross, Al Johnson’s and Top Shelf, all providing for the fire fighters.
A hole was drilled in the harbor by the Sister Bay department’s hose truck, for water and a hose line established up the road to provide water to fight the fire. Fortunately, that hose did not freeze, due to the flow of water, but several of the hand-held hoses did freeze. Because of the hose, it required the road to be closed and traffic was detoured up County Q. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
