Just over a week has passed since a fire engulfed the Sun Valley Animal Center, south of Ketchum. But owner Dr. Randy Acker is back at the operating table, albeit he now has to drive 15 miles further south to get to work.
"The bottom line is that it was extremely sad when I first walked in there and saw what happened," Acker said Tuesday. "But we have an excellent operating room at the Sawtooth Animal Center (in Bellevue) and we're already working away."
The fire at 106 S. Clear Creek Road was reported at 9:49 p.m. Sunday, June 1. The Ketchum Fire Department was first dispatched to the scene.
Within five minutes, the blaze was declared to be a "full structure fire" and backup was ordered. Almost immediately, firefighters and bystanders started removing cats and dogs from the burning building. Acker said that thanks to a quick response from his local insurance agent, Bob Nero, who was at the scene within 24 hours of the incident, the center has been able to replace its state-of-the-art equipment, valued at just under a million dollars.
Unfortunately, the return to the damaged building won't be as expeditious.
Ketchum Assistant Fire Chief Robbie Englehart said on Monday that the fire originated in the surgical prep room, but that the department's investigation was still going on.
Acker added that a preliminary investigation by the insurance company has determined that the fire was likely caused by either a Whirlpool dryer or a refurbished autoclave, a machine used to sterilize surgical equipment.
However, Acker said that another examination of the scene will take place on June 24, giving the manufacturers of these two pieces of equipment the opportunity to be present, as they could be held liable depending on the result of the investigation.
In addition to the investigation, reconstruction cannot begin until the frame of the building is determined to be sound.
"We have to get an engineer in here to look at the beam structure, but I think it will be fine," Acker said. "I've been involved in building five clinics over the years, so I'm kind of used to the craziness."
Along with a new roof, insulation, drywall and wiring, Acker said that he would take this opportunity to make a few necessary "minor changes" that have become apparent since the building was first constructed in 1992.
"I really appreciate the response from the fire departments—they really saved my bacon," Acker said. "We didn't have enough (insurance) coverage if it had gone to the ground."
In total, the Ketchum Fire Department sent six fire engines, one ambulance, one aerial tower and 31 firefighters. The Sun Valley Fire Department provided one engine and three support vehicles with 13 firefighters, while Wood River Fire and Rescue provided one engine and four firefighters.
Acker said that the center had a good evacuation plan in place as a result of last summer's Castle Rock Fire.
While all surgical services will take place at the Sawtooth Animal Center, Acker has also opened a small clinic in an adjacent building that previously housed the animal center.
Acker said that he is also looking into potential sites to resume the center's day care and boarding operation.
"It's certainly not easy to deal with, but in the big picture, this was just stuff that we lost," Acker said. "And we also have received great support from the community. If you're going to have some kind of wreck, this is the place to do it."
Alex Shearer, a laboratory technician with the Sun Valley Animal Center, helps removes items from the damage caused by a large structure fire on Sunday, June 1. No animals were injured during the blaze, but Dr. Randy Acker said that lots of expensive equipment was destroyed. He hopes to make the extensive repairs as soon as possible.
