NISLAND - Nisland Fire Chief Randy Vallery worries that the fire that gutted the Nisland mall Tuesday will mean the loss of a gathering place for the community.

A fire years ago at the school ended that building's function as a center for the community.

The one-time gas station on U.S. Highway 212 that burned Tuesday had been a restaurant with added services available at different times in its recent history.

The restaurant had been closed for several weeks, Vallery said, and the building was for sale.

Now, he said, "It's pretty much a total loss."

He added that he understood the asking price for the building was about $90,000.

People in and around town hoped someone would buy the building and reopen the cafe so there would be a daytime meeting place.

"This was where Nisland people met to keep that feeling of community," Vallery said.

Even as a burned-out shell, cars kept stopping at the scene late Wednesday afternoon

Vallery is the fire chief, but he lives outside of town on a cattle ranch and hunting preserve.

He had gone home Tuesday after a volunteer fire department meeting in town, but several firefighters had stayed late at the fire hall. They were there when the fire call came in and were able to quickly respond to it.

Even that was a bit late, Vallery said.

When firefighters arrived, flames already had burst through three windows.

The main part of the building dates back as long as Vallery can remember. Some additions offered more space and even an apartment at the back - but also several layers of roof with air spaces between them. The stacked-roof construction made fighting the fire more difficult.

The apartment was occupied by two young women, Vallery said. Each had an infant with them the night of the blaze.

About 9 p.m., one began to prepare for supper by putting a frying pan on the electric stove.

"She said the baby started to cry, and she went to see to the child," Vallery said. "When she came back, the fire was burning."

The women and babies got safely out of the building.

Belle Fourche and Newell fire departments were called in to bring water and help put down the fire.

Belle Fourche Fire Chief Mark Hespe said he was called soon after 9 p.m. A dozen firefighters from Belle Fourche helped with the fire.

Hespe said there were three levels of roof to contend with, and the Belle Fourche department did most of the "inside attack."

Vallery said the Nisland Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary planned to see if they could help the people displaced by the fire.