A fire ripped through Joe’s Ranch House in Beach Lake on November 15, entirely destroying one building and damaging one next to it. An employee of the restaurant said it was difficult for firefighters to get water onto the blaze because the building had a metal exterior.

Firefighters battled the blaze well into Friday morning. Troopers said they believe the blaze started in the rear of the building and spread from there.

There were at least four apartments on the second floor of the building that remained, but the tenants were forced to move out because of the damage. One tenant was the daughter of Carol Wingert, supervisor of the Town of Tusten, across the river in New York. There were no injuries reported in connection with the blaze.

The Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal’s Unit issued a press release on November 16 saying it is investigating the fire and, “At this time the cause of the fire is undetermined.”

The establishment is owned by local businessman Joe Krempasky, who had recently hired a new chef for the restaurant and taken the building through an expensive renovation. Before Krepasky purchased the property in 2007, it was known as Bernadette’s Seafood House.

There is a community effort to collect clothing and necessities for the four displaced families. To donate go to www.facebook.com/firevictimsnypa or send donations to Carol Wingert/Fire Victims, P.O. Box 321, Narrowsburg, NY 12764.