Staff Reporter, Ima Ryghter

This morning our court posted a notice throughout our small city.  For anyone who may have missed it:

“The Honorable Jaime Morrison has hereby called for a public hearing on January 21st at 10:00AM SLT to present the causes of the hotel fire and loss of two additional historical buildings. The Chief Justice has issued subpoenas for the appearance of the Fire Marshal and Mayor of Lincoln County to present evidence of the cause of the fire and loss of these landmarks. All citizens of LC are invited to attend.”

The Independent will have a writer there to cover the story as it develops.

After drinks and danish in the bakery after church there was a yell of “fire”.  Everyone made their way out to notice the Hotel was on fire.  It didn’t take long before it transferred to the empty store and town’s historic schoolhouse beside it.  The local fire department arrived with multiple trucks to the call.  Setting out the ladder to go to the higher parts of the buildings.  While there was ground control of firemen to tend them.  Men on the trucks getting water to the hoses while they all worked extremely hard.

Shouting was heard from one fireman to one another, not only for their headcount and to let one another know what is being done and what may need to be done.  Another yell was announced to send the fire dog in to be sure no one was inside or left.  Townspeople stood by watching as the sad destruction of each building crumbled to the ground.

After the fire was out and under control I went over to one of the firemen asking him if he knew how the fire may have started.  John Mad Jack Savage replied to me saying he believed it was electrical and not suspecting arson.  Sad day for the city of Cloudcroft as we will have to see what will become of a hotel and school.