Fire at Charleston's Black Hawk Saloon
Fire at Charleston's Black Hawk Saloon Save Email Print
Posted: 10:46 PM Oct 8, 2008
 Last Updated: 9:28 AM Oct 9, 2008
 Reporter: WSAZ News Staff
Email Address: news@wsaz.com
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Emergency crews responded Wednesday night to a small fire at the Black Hawk Saloon in Charleston, W.Va.

Dispatchers tell us a large amount of smoke was coming from the building, but everyone escaped safely.

The Black Hawk Saloon has been making headlines over the last few weeks because its management has refused to follow the smoking ban in Kanawha County and are allowing customers to continue smoking.

There is no word on what started the fire. Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for the latest information as it becomes available.

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Posted by: Lynn on Oct 10, 2008 at 01:09 PM
I do smoke and know that everytime I see my uncle Kerry Ellison he tells me how much he hates it and how bad he would like to see me quit. Don't you idiot's get it. It's not about smoking!And how about Charles what kind of person are you to be happy about this.Loved Scott's comments. Can you tell he takes after his dad.I heard the customers helped clean up the place after the fire.Would you get that kind of help Chuck?
Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 10, 2008 at 11:03 AM
I had to drive through that smoke on the interstate also. I have a problem with people smoking in public. If you want to slowly kill yourself, that's perfectly fine, but don't make others, including your children, slowly die also because you can not go somewhere away from those who don't smoke for your nasty habit. Just to make sure my message is clear: killing yourself with your cigarettes = just fine, ok, if that's your choice; killing others with your nasty habit= not ok, selfish, nasty, disgusting! Read up about 2nd hand smoke then see why others don't want to inhale those nasty chemicals that you worship
Posted by: Rita on Oct 9, 2008 at 07:26 PM
Don't make them turn up their ashtrays. If they want their business to burn so be it. I would prefer the smell of cigarett smoke inside where I have a choice to go in or not, rather than outside where the smoke comes in my car as I drive by and that is not my choice.Just like driving by the hospitals,resteraunts and other businesses, not only are the butts trashing up the ground but the smoke is trashing up my fresh outside air as I drive by. Thank You.
Posted by: cw on Oct 9, 2008 at 06:55 PM
Julio is a punk!
Posted by: John on Oct 9, 2008 at 05:27 PM
I don't smoke, and I don't believe the owner of BLACK HAWKS does , So we choose to go to a place that has smoking, OUR CHOICE RIGHT. SO WHY DOES THE STATE HAVE THE RIGHT TO TELL US WHAT TO DO IF I WANT TO GO TO A BAR I SHOULD BE ABLE TO THIS IS THE LAND OF THE FREE...RIHGT OR WRONG
Posted by: Cares on Oct 9, 2008 at 03:27 PM
To Charles! The bar owner is a very nice man! You don't have to like him or his ideals, but you should care about him as a human being who has lost his business. Karma! There is no Karma. It could happen to you and then where would you be while you read comments like some of these listed below, including yours!! You are just jealous because you don't have the guts to buck the system and stand up for yourself! At least he didn't just sit down when the smoking ban went into effect! He took a stand and spoke out. You can only do it in the vent line undercover!
Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 9, 2008 at 03:22 PM
where's pablo????
Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 9, 2008 at 03:19 PM
"If we hadn't' been smoking in there.. we would've noticed the fire earlier" It is my opinion that the owner not only broke the law but endangered everybody in there. It's really awful that so much smoke was blowing across the interstate to block the view of the drivers but people inside the bar had no clue what was going on because of all of the cigerette smoke. Live by the sword....
Posted by: Sherry on Oct 9, 2008 at 03:09 PM
Don't leave those ashtrays unattended! Stop Smoking! Drop! and Roll!
Posted by: booger on Oct 9, 2008 at 02:33 PM
Talk about getting what you ask for. They wanted smoking, they got plenty of smoke. If only it would work for me. I've been asking for Lindsay Lohan...
Posted by: Charles on Oct 9, 2008 at 01:03 PM
Give me a break Mary! He was going to lose his business anyways because he refused to follow the law and was going to get shut down by the health department. He didn't seem to be too worried about it getting closed when he was breaking the law all these weeks while other business owners were following the rules. It's karma.
Posted by: Raymond on Oct 9, 2008 at 11:36 AM
I hate to see anyone have a fire but the irony on this is just beyond compare. Especially the owners comment at another news source that if it hadn't been for them smoking they might have noticed the fire earlier. If they had noticed sooner maybe damage would not have been as severe. No deed goes unpunished.
Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 9, 2008 at 11:21 AM
SMOKIN'!!!!!
Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 9, 2008 at 11:01 AM
And they say smoking doesn't cause any damage....
Posted by: Ashley on Oct 9, 2008 at 10:38 AM
I truly hope this was an accident and not an arson to "teach him a lesson". I have to applaud this owner's efforts in challenging a silly law. Tell me again how/why we let a group of unelected officials introduce a ban, which for all intensive purposes is an enforceable law??? I fully support and understand the ban against smoking in restaurants, but bars??? That should be up to the owner. Prior to this "law" there were bars who did not allow smoking inside their establishment, that was their right! However, I still believe that smoking is a legal activity and a choice each citizen can make on their own, without the help of Nanny government. To the owner and employees of Black Hawk Saloon, I solute your efforts and hope to see you back in business soon!
Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 9, 2008 at 09:06 AM
How ironic would it be if the fire was started by a cigarette...
Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 9, 2008 at 08:22 AM
did someone drop their cig ?
Posted by: Mary on Oct 9, 2008 at 05:22 AM
My Goodness...a person could lose their business and we call that Karma and think it's funny....That is sad...I don't agree with what the man is doing, but to say you don't feel bad for this happening to someone....Compassion Maybe. WOW!!!
Posted by: Courtney on Oct 9, 2008 at 04:17 AM
The owner of this establishment is a family man and a great guy. I was glad that he challenged a silly law. I'm so sorry to see this happen and am very happy that no one was harmed.
Posted by: scott on Oct 9, 2008 at 02:05 AM
It seems that people love sharing their opinions the most, when they have no idea what they are talking about. The owner of this bar has done nothing to harm anyone, and to celebrate his misfortune is unnesacary and really just down right mean. I happen to be his son, and watching him have the most fun ive ever seen him have the last month or so has been wonderful. He is the hardest working person that I have ever known, and what he "deserved" was the enjoyment that he recieved from his buisness. Wishing luck on others probably isnt going to help your karma much. If you believe so strongly in it though, perhaps the next time you write something ugly about a stranger, Your computer keys will fall off, and then your wife will take it to have it repaired and they will find Illegal porn that you have on it, and you will be arrested and she will leave you. Now that would be some amazing Karma, and I wouldnt feel bad one bit. Jerk!!
Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 9, 2008 at 12:08 AM
It will be interesting to find out the cause of the fire.
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