The Nov. 5 fire that started in the saloon area of the 1880 Union Hotel in Los Alamos is suspected to have been intentionally set, according to Santa Barbara County Fire Department officials.
It’s suspicious, and it’s under investigation,” department spokesman Cpt. David Sadecki said.
Sadecki was unable to reveal any more details about the fire, but a release to the media said the blaze wasn’t related to a structure fire that ignited an hour earlier in the 1600 block of Calzada Avenue in Santa Ynez.
A hotel employee told the Sun the fire, which started around 2:15 a.m., carved out a big hole in the saloon floor that has since been boarded up, and caused smoke damage to the office area.
According to the historical website,losalamosvalley.org, the building housing the hotel originally served as a store, but burned down in 1893. Not long after, the new hotel was established to serve travelers.
The current establishment boasts several rooms, a restaurant, and a full bar, and has become a popular destination for weddings and other special events.
This article appears in Nov 11-18, 2010.