2 Businesses Lost In Downtown Guthrie Fire

Guthrie officials say two businesses have been ruled a complete loss. Those businesses are Furrow Flowers and Gifts, and the Double Stop Fiddle Shop owned by famous fiddle player, Byron Berline. 

The fire started around 11:30 this morning. Officials say they’re still investigating the cause of the flame. 

“The fire originated on the backside which would be the southside in the alleyway on the back porch,” Chief Eric Harlow, with the Guthrie Fire Department, said. 

No injuries have been reported. But crews did have a difficult time stopping the fire completely. They did manage to keep it from spreading to further buildings downtown. 

“With the wins like we’ve got today I didn’t take long to get inside the building and run to the full end of the building,” Chief Harlow said. 

However, he added that the winds did work in their favor. 

“Pushing it towards the end of the block which there’s no other conjoining buildings on that end of the block.”

Being in downtown Guthrie, it’s not just a historical loss, it’s an emotional loss as well. 

“It’s just so devastating to watch that building vanished before our eyes. And all of what was in it. And of course you can’t recuperate that. But you know music doesn’t die,” Lynn Muir, a resident, said. 

Lynn and her son Henry have an emotional tie with Byron Berline’s fiddle shop. So much so, that Henry’s middle name is Byron. 

“This is my childhood pretty much,” Henry Byron Burgess said 

Henry’s father is a fellow fiddle player, who performs with Byron regularly. 

“He prayed that he would have a son that would enjoy that music. And lo and behold he got his wish,” Muir said. 

Several other residents were downtown this afternoon, watching as a part of their town’s history turned into ashes. 

The community is hopeful the town of Guthrie will rally around the businesses and help in their journey to recovery. 

Officials say this is an ongoing investigation. 

We’ll continue to update you with the developments.

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