Oldtown businesses adjust after Dick Bruhn’s fire

Charred and burnt remains is all that is left of the old Dick Bruhn building in downtown Salinas.

Several streets are still closed after a destructive fire ripped through the vacant historic building Saturday afternoon, according to the Salinas Fire Department.

Battalion Chief, Scott Myhre of the Salinas Fire Department told KION that the 200 and 300 blocks of Main Street and E. Alisal Street between Salinas Street and Monterey Street will be closed until at least Tuesday.

The road closures are affecting many of the local businesses in the area.

“Business is really bad. No people… no business,” said Maria Padilha of Isla Marietas, a restaurant a few doors down from the Dick Bruhn building.

Padiha’s son, Carlos Herrera, echoed his mother’s feelings. He fears that the road closure won’t just hurt his family’s business, but their neighbors too.

“It is not only affecting us,” said Herrera. “It is affecting everyone. If there are no cars passing by there are no people. If there are no people, there is no money flowing.”

The area surrounding the building is still marked off with caution tape because fire officials fear that the building may come down.

“There is a high risk, we’ve got a perimeter set up,” said Myhre. “We are preparing for it in the case that it does come down.”

Since the building is not stable, Chief Myhre and his crews can’t get inside. Myhre said this a completely new challenge for the Salinas Fire Department.

“We aren’t trained to sit back and watch things smoke and burn,” said Myhre.

So with each passing hour, crews are forced to wait and watch until at least Tuesday when inspectors, investigators and engineers can get inside.

With roads empty, local businesses say they are doing their best to stay positive.

“Unfortunately, it is going to be hard, said Herrera, “but we are going to have to adapt to it.”