Fire Destroys Harvey Washbangers restaurant and laundromat

This podcast contains interviews with College Station fire department captain Stuart Marrs and the chef at Harvey Washbangers restaurant and laundromat Michael Lair.A 25 year business in College Station is gone following a fire. College Station firefighters responded around 5:30 Monday morning (March 10) to Harvey Washbangers, a combination restaurant and laundromat off Texas between Harvey and Holleman. Captain Stuart Marrs says there were no casualties and investigators are looking for a cause.Marrs says the firefighters who arrived saw the roof had collapsed and the exterior walls had bowed out and collapsed.There was no fire damage to businesses next to Washbangers. Marrs says that is because there is a ten foot gap between the buildings and water was sprayed in the gap to keep heat from the fire away from the other building. Marrs says neighborhood residents may have noticed a drop in water pressure due to all the fire hydrants that were being used.Washbangers chef Michael Lair, whose father owns the business, said his phone has been blowing up from concerned customers.Lair says his primary concern is for the 35 employees who are out of work. He said "If there is anybody that is looking to hire people, I have great people."Four hours after the firefighters arrived, Lair also said "this community is incredible" and "I know God's in charge and He's got a plan for this. I have no idea what it is but we'll figure that out when we get there."