Fort Smith (Jun 26/06) - A Fort Smith fire snatched, at least temporarily, a hotel and a restaurant, just as the village's tourism season starts.

The building housing the Portage Inn and Ed's Express restaurant closed after it was damaged in the blaze.

The Portage Inn building in Fort Smith was damaged by fire on June 17. The building, which also houses a restaurant and hair salon, is now closed, at least temporarily. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

Fort Smith Fire Chief Darren Linaker says the fire started at about lunchtime on June 17.

"There was visible smoke and flame coming from the top of the building," Linaker says, adding the fire caused extensive damage to the roof structure.

There is also smoke and water damage to the building, and parts of the interior ceiling fell in on the second floor.

Linaker estimated the damage at about $250,000.

An investigation for a cause of the fire is being conducted by the Fire Marshal's Office.

"I'm deeply concerned," says Mike Keizer, the chair of the Fort Smith Tourism Advisory Board.

"It's a big loss in both ways," he says.

Keizer says the fire left the town with only one other hotel and a bed and breakfast, and only one operating restaurant and a Kentucky Fried Chicken/Pizza Hut outlet at the Northern Store.

"It makes it harder to bring large groups to Fort Smith," he says.

The Portage Inn has eight rooms with kitchenettes and is a nice little operation, he says. "Not having it is going to hurt."

Keizer hopes the building will be repaired and re-opened as soon as possible.

The owner of the building could not be reached for comment.

Bernie Minute, the president of the Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce, shares the concern for the tourism industry.

"In a small town like this, the loss of one of anything is going to affect us," he says, adding the shortage of accommodations could also affect the construction season.

Minute notes, when another hotel burned down about 10 years ago, it led to the loss of bus tours by seniors. "I don't believe we have seen many of them return."

The Portage Inn building is still standing, and looks virtually undamaged from the front.

However, fire damage is noticeable on the south side of the structure.

Along with the inn and restaurant, the building housed a hair salon. The inn occupied the top floor of the two-storey building. There were no injuries in the fire.