Drummond House 'Likely' To Be Demolished, EDJ Rentals Shares Interior Destruction
investigation from Sept. house fire states lightning strike as leading cause, additional significant water damage to interior and exterior makes restoration efforts unlikely
On Wednesday, Dec. 3, EDJ Rentals and Classic Construction & Consulting announced the likely demolition of the historic Drummond House in Eau Claire (1310 State St.) following a sudden fire which broke out in the structure this fall.
"It is a considerable loss for the community, as well as to us, the owners," EDJ Rentals co-owner Joe Garlick said. "We own 14 historical properties in the Eau Claire area that we take extreme measures to try to keep them in very good conditions.
"We do not take this situation lightly at all. It is extremely unfortunate that the building incurred the level of damage that it did during the fire and the water damage that is creating a significant part of the problem," Garlick added.
In October, Volume One documented the initial investigation of the State St. house fire and the property owners' effort to secure a path toward potential restoration. Today, Dec. 3, Garlick confirmed the investigation had been completed and the ultimate cause of the fire was a lightning strike.
"The fire began after lightning struck the roof of the 137-year-old home, burning approximately 70% of the attic and roof structure," a recent media release stated.
EDJ Rentals, the owner of the property – in collaboration with Classic Construction and
Consulting – outlined the process toward restoration or demolition in tandem with EDJ Rental's insurance providers.
Ultimately, contractors concluded – as a result from the fire and water damage – the cost to rebuild the structure and bring it up to current city code is not economically viable.
"Part of the problem with reconstruction and related costs is the code upgrades that need to happen on this project," Kevin Suoja, the chief commercial production officer at Classic Construction & Consulting, shared in the media release. "We would have to remove all interior wall and ceiling finishes down to the building's main structure, and all mechanical systems will have to be replaced for code reasons – this adds a tremendous cost to the reconstruction."
Along with the announcement of the Drummond House's likely demolition, EDJ Rentals released a video of "Site Assessment Footage" to showcase the extent of the fire's destruction and water damage (which resulted from the amount of water required to put out the fire).
The video showcases a complete view of the open roof structure, water damage, and mold growth compromising the foundation and interior walls, among other visuals to exhibit the extensive damage.
The exact timeline for the Drummond House's demolition is not yet known, Garlick said. The rental company is awaiting the completion of insurance review which should be in-hand by the end of the year. Pending the ultimate decision of complete demolition of the property, it would be done as soon as possible, Garlick added.
The complete release provided by EDJ Rentals and Classic Construction & Consulting on Wednesday, Dec. 3:
Eau Claire, WI – A lightning strike during a September 2025 storm ignited a destructive fire at the 1888 historic landmark known as The Drummond House, causing extensive structural damage and triggering a months-long mitigation and evaluation effort involving emergency responders, restoration professionals, and insurance representatives.
The fire began after lightning struck the roof of the 137-year-old home, burning approximately 70% of the attic and roof structure. Eau Claire Fire Department crews worked for more than six hours to extinguish the blaze, deploying an estimated one million gallons of water to suppress flames and prevent further spread.
While the fire severely damaged the roof, the water required to extinguish it caused significant additional destruction throughout the entire structure. At one point, more than four feet of standing water accumulated in the basement.
EDJ Rentals, the owner of the property in Eau Claire contracted Classic Construction and Consulting to lead both the restoration consulting process along with the coordination with the property’s insurance provider. As part of the emergency response, Classic Construction mobilized crews to remove saturated materials in an effort to limit mold growth and prevent structural deterioration.
Post fire, the exterior brick has also begun to show signs of chalking and deterioration due to moisture now trapped behind the masonry.
Over the past several months, Classic Construction, EDJ Rentals, and the insurance carrier have been working to reach a conclusion that would allow the Drummond House to be restored to its pre-fire condition. Multiple contractors — five in total — were asked to evaluate the cost to rebuild under current building codes. All parties have reviewed options and assessed the cost and feasibility of reconstruction; all have concluded that the damage caused by the fire does not make the building economically viable to rebuild.
Kevin Suoja of Classic Construction & Consulting noted the significant challenges facing any attempt at reconstruction: “Part of the problem with reconstruction and related cost is the code upgrades that need to happen on this project. We would have to remove all interior wall and ceiling finishes down to the building’s main structure, and all mechanical systems will have to be replaced for code reasons — this adds a tremendous cost to the reconstruction.” — Kevin Suoja, Classic Construction & Consulting
Due to the severe water damage, extensive mold contamination, structural vulnerabilities, and reconstruction costs, Classic Construction and EDJ Rentals have reached a difficult but necessary conclusion: the Drummond House will most likely need to be demolished. As final insurance settlements are reviewed and considered, a final decision will be made before the end of the year.
The recommendation includes salvaging any historically or structurally recoverable materials before safely removing the remainder of the building and restoring the site to a level, stable grade. EDJ Rentals and Classic Construction express their appreciation to the Eau Claire Fire Department, local officials, neighboring residents, and the community for their patience and support throughout the ongoing assessment process.
EDJ remains committed to restoring and maintaining historic homes and properties throughout the area.
This is a developing story with future updates to come from Volume One. Additional information about the completed investigation and demolition of the David Drummond House (1310 State St., Eau Claire) can be found online through the EDJ Rentals website. Read Volume One's initial coverage, with additional drone photos, online.
