BELLINGHAM, WA (KGMI.COM) A late-night fire destroyed the historic building that held the Harris Avenue Cafe and a coffee shop.

 

A fire inspector on the scene says the call came in close to midnight Saturday and the fire appears to have started in the cafe (Old Independent Coffeehouse) on the corner of Harris Avenue and 11th Street. The fire left the building unstable and inspectors are unable to enter to determine an exact cause.

Due to the current state of the structure, the Bellingham Fire Department is currently using drones to inspect the damage.

The intersection of Harris Avenue and 11th Street in Fairhaven is closed to traffic until further notice.

A solemn crowd was gathered around the scene Sunday morning.

As KGMI receives more information, we will continue to update our coverage on this incident.