The Pioneer Lodge – a popular landmark restaurant in Willow – burned to the ground in the early morning hours on Wednesday. Firefighters from Wasilla, Meadow Lakes, Houston, Caswell and Talkeetna rushed to help the Willow fire department to battle the blaze.

Director of Mat-Su Borough emergency services Dennis Brodigan said the building shell is still standing but it is a total loss. Nobody was in the building during the fire and no casualties or injuries were reported.

The 911 call center received a call at 3:27 A.M. reporting heavy smoke coming out of the building. Brodigan said that the flames spread fast andthat the firefighters were unable to contain the fire. However, adjacent buildings were protected.

Brodigan said that preliminary indications point to the start of the fire in the kitchen. The State Fire Marshal office is investigating.

According to State Trooper spokeswoman Megan Peters, the Willow fire chief requested the Fire Marshal’s involvement because the restaurant was a significant establishment for the community and because the loss of the building is estimated to be over $500,000.

She said the investigation is in its early preliminary stages and could take months to be completed.

The Pioneer Lodge was a popular restaurant for Willow and upper valley residents alike and functioned often as a meeting venue for local clubs.

Photo courtesy Helen Lundberg