POCATELLO — The blaze that gutted the 5 Mile Inn, Bar and Cafe building on Yellowstone Avenue in Chubbuck last month began as a grease fire in a deep fryer, the Chubbuck Fire Department said Monday.

Chubbuck Fire Department Chief Merlin Miller said the Oct. 5 grease fire started inside a deep fryer located in the kitchen of the cafe that shared the same building as the bar. He was unsure whether the fryer malfunctioned, but said the blaze quickly spread throughout the building.

The building was insured and was declared a total loss following the fire. A cook was in the building when the fire broke out but was able to evacuate safely without any injuries. Nobody was injured as a result of the fire.

5 Mile bar owner Doug Hagen, who also lost his home to fire during the 2012 Charlotte Fire, told the Journal Monday that he still has the intention of rebuilding the bar, and is just waiting for his insurance company to approve his claim.

“It’s basically a hurry-up-and-wait-type of situation,” Hagen said. “But it better be on the side of hurrying up, because I’ve waited long enough.”

Not only is Hagen highly anticipating rebuilding his bar, but he also has upcoming property taxes that are still due for the building, coupled with lease payments that are due on the properties surrounding what used to be the 5 Mile bar that are located on the same lot.

Hagen’s sole source of income was operating the 5 Mile bar, and although he has not yet considered any additional fundraising opportunities, he does have a loss of income clause on his insurance policy, which he said should help cover his upcoming expenses until the rebuild can begin.

“Once the insurance claim goes through I can then apply for a demolition permit from the city of Chubbuck,” Hagen said. “Once we start leveling the building I will consult with an architect to draw up the plans for the new 5 Mile and then we will hit the ground running on the rebuild.”

Hagen’s goal is to rebuild the 5 Mile bar in the same location. He told the Journal last month he was grandfathered-in to several city ordinances, so he might have to push the new building away from the street somewhat when he starts the rebuild process.

Although the building was a total loss, Hagen and some of his staff were able to salvage a few items from inside the charred remains of the bar that he intends on displaying inside the new bar once it’s rebuilt.

“We were able to save an old, antique sign that read, ‘No Admittance Under 21,’ which hung on the front entrance of the bar since long before I owned it,” Hagen said. “We also saved one of the bars that separated bar seating from the cocktail waitress ordering section and an old photo album that was like 17-years-old. We plan on displaying what we found in a shadow box at the new bar.”

Hagen said he hasn’t been in touch with all 10 of his former employees, but at least some of them have been able to find new jobs, he added.

Furthermore, Hagen said his friends, Rory and Jennifer Erchul, who own the Yellowstone Restaurant, 313 Whiskey Room and Union Taproom in Old Town Pocatello, were able to raise $230 for each employee with a fundraiser benefit on Oct. 19.

The employees were presented with the check on Nov. 11.

“I want to send out a huge thank you to the Yellowstone, 313 Whiskey Room and Union Taproom in helping us out,” Hagen said. “That was one small business helping out another small business, and that’s awesome considering there are not of ton of us left.”

Moreover, the 5 Mile bar’s house band, Whiskey Hangover, was able to raise just under $2,000 with a spaghetti dinner fundraiser at Rumors bar in Pocatello on Oct. 19 as well. While every amount has helped the band get back on its feet, the blaze damaged over $56,000 worth of equipment, according to vocalist Annie Muegerl.

The band had also raised $600 on a GoFundMe.com account, but it was suspended after somebody reported it for fraud, Muegerl said. The fundraiser was later reactivated but all the donations had been refunded, Muegerl said.

Considering the online fundraising account takes a percentage of the donations, and the suspension of the fundraiser itself, Muegerl said the band is in the process of creating a PayPal account for future donations.

But once the 5 Mile bar is back up and running, Hagen said there is no doubt Whiskey Hangover will be the band to christen the new location — and the band couldn’t be happier.

“I am so excited for the 5 Mile bar to reopen and for Doug to get back on his feet,” Muegerl said. “Three generations of my family have played music there. My dad helped my grandfather set up for shows there and I remember helping my dad setup for shows, too. I pray that they do rebuild and that it’s everything that it’s supposed to be. That was the staple for live dance music in our town and we are so stoked for its comeback.”