Colfax building destroyed in fire

COLFAX, Wash.-- A fire Tuesday night destroyed a building on Main Street in Colfax.

The Colfax Fire Department responded to the 2-story building on Main Street at about 7:00 p.m. and arrived to find smoke coming from all four sides of the building. Crews encountered heavy flames when the entered Fonk's Coffeehouse on the street level of the building, prompting them to pull out and tackle the fire from the outside.

The fire was eventually upgraded to a three alarm structure fire, with resources from Pullman Rural Fire Department #12, City of Pullman, and Roalia Fire Department#7, Garfield Fire Department #3, Palouse Fire Department #4, and Endicott Fire Department #6 responding to help.

It took crews about three hours to get the fire under control. The building was totaled, but crews managed to keep the flames from spreading to adjoining structures. Those nearby buildings do have some smoke and heat damage.

Fire officials say two residents from neighboring apartments were taken to the hospital along with one firefighter. All three patients have since been released from the hospital.

The American Red Cross is helping 6 displaced residents.

Main Street was closed much of the day Wednesday while the building was inspected. Due to the roof collapse and total loss of the building, there is a concern for collapse of the building into Main Street.