Grease fire quickly spreads through Freddie's in Hurley

HURLEY - For the second time in less than a year, a Hurley nightspot was struck by a major fire on Friday evening.

A grease fire started at Freddie's Old-Time Saloon on Silver Street, causing heavy smoke to quickly spread throughout the building while patrons were dining or sipping drinks.

The fire began around 7:15 p.m.

A customer in the tavern who didn't want to be identified said he tried to put out the blaze with a fire extinguisher, but lost the battle when it contained no more retardant.

He said owner Donna Falbe was in the kitchen when the grease fire ignited.

"Donna ran out and said, 'Someone call 911,'" he said.

Michael Besonen said he also tried to put out the fire, but it spread too quickly.

The Hurley Fire Department arrived and ordered everyone to leave the building, Besonen said.

Flames initially shot out of the entrance to the tavern, but later it was mostly heavy smoke pouring from the building during a light rain.

At 8:30 p.m., there was still heavy, dark smoke coming out both the front, back and roof of the tavern, which has living quarters upstairs where the owenrs, Donna and Harry Falbe, resided.

Donna Falbe wept for joy around 8:15 p.m. when firefighters rescued her two cats from the building. Firefighters said the cats were hiding under a table.

The Freddie's in the name of the tavern is after the late Freddie Fontecchio, who opened the tavern as Freddie's Hall of Fame, honoring area sports greats and other area people he considered important.

Last Dec. 12, Wishbones tavern, the former Connie's Supper Club, was destroyed in a spectacular fire on the same block.

That fire sent huge clouds of smoke as far as the Kmart store in Ironwood.

The Krash Inn is to the east of Freddie's and the Hurley post office is to the west.