Fire crews from Silver Creek, Dunkirk, Sunset Bay, Hanover, Evans, the county Emergency Services, Sheridan were on the scene of the structure fire that was fully involved once they arrived at 42 Lake St. in the village. High winds that whipped the region today were not a factor in the blaze as the railroad track berm served as a shield.

In fact, at the shores of Lake Erie at the end of Lake Street, the waters were calm.

Hideaway Bay has been vacant for years and was purchased in 2016 by the Chautauqua County Land Bank. As recently as this year, officials at the agency were looking for potential developers for the site.

“None of the proposals met our vision for the property,” said Gina Paradis, Land Bank executive director in an OBSERVER article last spring. “So we have decided to take a step backwards and to evaluate our options. One option might be to hold on to the property until there is an increase interest in the property, which we expect will happen in the next couple years or we might send out another (request for proposals). We are undecided right now, so we are going to sit back and talk more before moving forward.”

Hideaway Bay this morning.

In recent weeks, the site had been reportedly burglarized though all the utilities were off at the vacant building.

Firefighters from eight companies were on the scene.

The Dunkirk Ladder truck fought the fire this morning.

This sign at Lake and Route 5 in Silver Creek for the former restaurant.