Fire damages Iron Hog Restaurant and Saloon in Oro Grande

An early morning fire Friday gutted the kitchen of the Iron Hog Restaurant and Saloon, a favorite watering hole for motorcyclists and Route 66 travelers going through Oro Grande, California.

According to the Victorville Daily Press:

The blaze erupted at the shuttered saloon, located at 20848 National Trails Highway, at 5:39 a.m. Friday. It spread through the building’s kitchen, causing heavy fire and smoke damage before San Bernardino County Fire Department personnel extinguished it.

County Fire Cpt. Jeff Allen said the first unit arrived on scene in less than 20 minutes. They found “fire and smoke showing from the roof and the front of the building,” Allen said.

With a total of 17 County Fire personnel, including four paramedic engines, one truck company, a chief officer and a fire investigator, the crews knocked the fire down by 6:16 a.m.

No injuries were reported. No one was in the building at the time, as fire occurred during non-business hours. Fire officials are investigating the blaze’s cause.

The newspaper said the Iron Hog also caught fire in May 2015, causing $70,000 in damage.

Police also raided the establishment last year, confiscating five firearms, body armor, ammunition and a stolen vehicle. Three suspects were detained or arrested.

According to local lore, the Iron Hog building goes back at least 80 years:

In the 1930’s the place was rebuild in the configuration we see today. But over the years the place wore a lot of hats. At one time or another, it was a farm equipment dealership, a road house, biker bar, strip club and allegedly a house of ill repute.
Roy Rodgers, singing  cowboy legend carved his initials in the bar. Its most famous performance was a by the man in black himself, Johnny Cash.

The saloon also has served as a shooting site for several films, including “Erin Brockovich” and “Easy Rider.”

(Image of the Iron Hog Restaurant and Saloon fire by San Bernardino County Fire via Facebook)