One year ago today: Fire destroys building in downtown Watertown (Audio)

February 7, 2020
Mike Tanner

WATERTOWN, S.D.—It was one year ago today that a historic fire burned in downtown Watertown.

Flames raged through the former Harbor Bar at 16 North Broadway, eventually gutting the building.

KWAT News asked Watertown Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Don Rowland what he remembers about that day….

Firefighters poured water on the fire for 20 consecutive hours…..

Rowland says the fire taught them how to do their jobs in extreme weather conditions….

The cause of the fire was undetermined. The remains of the bar and a building next door were demolished, and that site will be the new home of a 39 unit apartment building and ground-level retail space known as The Lofts, this summer.