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SAWYER A Sawyer restaurant was damaged Wednesday night as a result of a structure fire, but according to Deputy State Fire Marshal Kathy Gierke, most of the damage within was caused by smoke and water. The concrete outer shell was not heavily damaged.

The fire was reported around 10:20 p.m. Wednesday night at the Cowboy's Corner Steakhouse and Lounge, located in the 100 block of First Street West in Sawyer. Sawyer firefighters were assisted by the Velva Fire Department in extinguishing the fire.

By Thursday morning, the outer structure, which is made with concrete blocks, was still standing albeit with a few scorch marks. Without looking up, the only visible evidence that a fire had occurred was the presence of numerous frozen puddles on the otherwise dry street to the south of the building.

At the request of the Sawyer department, Gierke was contacted around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday night. Not much more than an hour later, Gierke released the fire units, according to a sheriff's docket entry.

Gierke said she plans to visit the site again this morning, possibly wrapping up her investigation. She said Thursday that she knew where the fire originated in the building, which was not open at the time of the fire.

"It appears to be accidental," Gierke said. "There's nothing suspicious."

Although there have been reports that the building was "gutted" by the fire, Gierke said Thursday afternoon that most of the damage to the interior of the restaurant was water and smoke damage.

"It's really not," Gierke said when asked if the interior was destroyed. "Most of the fire damage was on the second floor."