Bristol Community Comes Together After Devastating Fire
**BRISTOL, Tenn.** — Early on Saturday morning, a fire broke out at Fumadores Bar and Lounge on West State Street, leaving the local community to grapple with the aftermath. While the fire’s origin is still under investigation, the damage it caused is clear and heart-wrenching.
Firefighters responded quickly, but the flames had already caused significant damage by the time they arrived. The space next to Fumadores, Imperial Dent Removal, also felt the fire’s impact. Although it might look relatively unscathed from the outside, the inside tells a different, smokier story.
**Timothy Whitaker**, a customer of both Fumadores and Zarati’s, learned about the fire while he was in the hospital. “This is a big loss for them, but I know they’re going to come back stronger,” Whitaker said. “It’s a bigger loss because they help so many people in the community.”
Whitaker recounted how the owners of Fumadores have always been supportive of the community, hosting events like free meet and greets with artists such as Jelly Roll. This fire hits hard for the community not just because of the physical damage but also due to the loss of a social hub.
**Lew Freeman**, the owner of Imperial Dent Removal and Imperial Pro Wrestling, was out of town when he got the call from his landlord about the fire. He described the devastating moment by saying, “The fire came through the wooden partition, set my stuff on fire, and continued to spread.”
Freeman estimated the damage to his equipment, tools, and cars to be between $100,000 and $150,000. “The way I set my insurance up, being unknowledgeable about insurance, I’m not covered for this situation,” Freeman said solemnly.
The fire department used over a million gallons of water to contain the fire in just three hours, leaving behind significant water damage. Inside Freeman’s building, debris is scattered, and burst lightbulbs have left shards of glass everywhere. The back section of the building, where Imperial Pro Wrestling stored all its equipment, is almost completely destroyed. This includes speakers, microphones, padding for the ring, chairs, and concession stand supplies.
Despite the setbacks, Freeman is determined to keep their next wrestling event scheduled for September 21 alive. “I’ve had wrestling promotions from literally across the world reach out and let me know that we don’t need to cancel the event,” Freeman said. “We still need to run it, and so we’re going to.”
The support from the global wrestling community has been uplifting for Freeman and his team. They are now focused on fundraising efforts to rebuild what was lost. “We want to get back up as quick as possible because a family that attends our shows house could burn down tomorrow and they’re going to call us and see if we can help,” Freeman explained. “So, when you look at it like that, that’s an issue.”
As of Tuesday, the Bristol, Tennessee Police Department had no updates on the investigation into the fire. The community remains hopeful but understands that there’s a long road to rebuilding ahead.
Even in the face of such significant loss, the people of Bristol have shown remarkable resilience. The local community appears ready to come together and support these businesses as they attempt to rebuild and recover from this devastating event.
This incident has served as a sobering reminder of the importance of community and the strength people find in coming together during tough times. While the charred ruins of Fumadores Bar and Lounge and Imperial Dent Removal stand as stark reminders of what was lost, they also represent the community’s resolve to rebuild stronger than ever before.
Let’s continue to support each other through these tough times, Bristol. The journey to recovery may be long, but with unity and determination, better days are on the horizon.
