Photo – Bill LeFever

UPDATE:  North backside of Vagabond completely destroyed.

UPDATE: Fire still actively burning in crawl space of motel at 1:30 pm –

Before 9am this morning, the fire siren rang out in Bishop. After receiving numerous 911

Photos of back of motel by Ron Alexander

calls, the Fire Department sent units to north Main Street where smoke was visible from the Vagabond Inn. Fire in the upper units quickly lashed out of the structure in the back of the motel. Guests were evacuated.

Firefighters said multiple units of the motel were on fire. Firemen worked feverishly to knock down the blaze and continued to fight it through the afternoon. Units from Big Pine, Independence and Mammoth Lakes responded with mutual aid. Independence also covered Big Pine.

Main Street was quickly closed between Wye Road and Yaney Street. Traffic was routed around behind Vons and Kmart to avoid the fire scene. One guest at the motel asked for an ambulance. He had inhaled a lot of smoke and cut himself when he broke glass to get a fire extinguisher. An ambulance took the 30-year-old man to Northern Inyo Hospital.

The scene was extremely smokey. As late as this afternoon, fire was still burning in the crawl space at the top of the Inn. Reports indicated a fire investigator was on the way from southern California. The general area where the fire started was the northeast corner of the motel. The cause remains unknown.

Guests of the motel were evacuated and at least 22 went to the Charles Brown Auditorium where Salvation Army set up a shelter and arranged for the Post Office to help the many visitors from out of the country get new pass ports.

According to Bishop Police Public Information Officer, Katie Coffman, these agencies responded to help with the fire – Bishop Fire; Bishop Police; Inyo County Sheriff; CHP; Caltrans; Mammoth, Big Pine and Independence Fire; Cal Fire; BLM; and Tribal Police. When we spoke to Coffman at 1:30pm, she said the fire was still active and that the east portion of the motel was completely destroyed. At last report, Main Street was re-opened to traffic.

Before 9am this morning, the fire siren rang out in Bishop. The Fire Department sent units to the Vagabond Inn where smoke was visible. Fire in the upper units quickly lashed out of the structure. Guests were evacuated.

Firefighters said multiple units of the motel were on fire, and initially it was reported some people may have been trapped on the upper floors. Firemen worked feverishly to knock down the blaze. Big Pine Fire was called for mutual aid. They sent two units. Independence Fire was also called for mutual aid. They sent units and also planned to cover for Big Pine.

Main Street was closed between Wye Road and Yaney Street. Traffic was routed around behind Vons and Kmart to avoid the fire scene. One guest at the motel asked for an ambulance. He had inhaled a lot of smoke and cut himself when he broke glass to get a fire extinguisher. An ambulance took the 30-year-old man to Northern Inyo Hospital.

The scene was extremely smokey, but firefighters appeared to have the upper hand. Reports indicated a fire investigator was on the way from southern California.