Food booths at Clark County fairgrounds lost to fire

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A fire at the Clark County Fairgrounds destroyed a building housing two food businesses April 11.

Clark County Fire District 6 Public Information Officer David Schmitke said in a video from the scene that shortly before 4 a.m. the district received a call about a fire in one of the outbuildings at the fairgrounds.

The building housed both the Malt Shop and Grill and the adjacent Chicken and Rib house.

Although Schmitke said it took about 30 minutes to put out the blaze, the building was destroyed. Clark Public utilities had shut off power while the fire was investigated.

On April 13 Clark County Deputy Fire Marshal Caleb Barnes said that an area of origin for the blaze was determined where multiple appliances were located in the building. However, he said an ignition sequence could not be determined.



"Probably based on all the facts electricity was involved," Barnes explained. "Beyond that I can't tell you if it was an appliance, the wiring or something else."

Barnes said the total loss was estimated at about $230,000.

A fundraiser for Betty and Larry Bowman, the owners of the destroyed businesses, has been set up and has raised close to $4,800 as of press time. For 45 years the couple had run booths at the fair, also participating in the Vancouver Farmers Market and formerly running the restaurant Boppin’ Bo’s, according to the fundraiser site.

Those interested in donating can do so at gofundme.com/bowman-family-fair-business-fire.