ELBERTA, Ala. — Tommy Patterson was awake early Sunday morning when he was startled by loud sirens that didn’t seem to fade away.

“I live in a neighborhood with a lot of older people,” he said. “You hear sirens a lot, and usually they fade away. This time it sounded like they just stopped near the house and were staying. I didn’t pay much attention until I heard a sort of explosion.”

After hearing the explosion, Patterson finally located the source of the sirens after walking to the end of his dock, where he saw the Wolf Bay Lodge engulfed in flames.

According to Elberta Volunteer Fire Department Fire Chief Steve Kirkpatrick, a call was received from an activated fire alarm at about 3 a.m. Sunday. It took three fire departments and about 40 people three hours to put out the fire.

“[The fire] had the whole structure,” he said. “All we could do was keep it from spreading to other structures.”

The Lodge, an Elberta landmark since it opened its doors more than 30 years ago,is already missed by many Gulf Coast residents.

“I was so saddened,” Patterson said. “Several people I know personally work there. They were such community minded people. It’s the loss of an icon restaurant.”

Patterson is only one of seemingly hundreds of residents and customers hurt by the loss.

“So many people have come by,” co-owner Charlene Haber said. “It looks like a funeral procession, there were so many cars. People are giving us their condolences and asking what they can give us or how they can help.”

This is not Haber’s first time facing destruction and rebuilding. The lodge was damaged after Hurricane Ivan hit in 2004.

“It’s worse this time around,” Haber said. “At least when the hurricane hit we still had the building to work with. Now, we don’t have that; it’s just totally gone.”

Haber and her sister Alice Bertz, who have been running the family business, have already begun speaking with contractors and have big plans for the future. Included in the plans is a structure on pilings closer to the water. An outdoor eating space and an area for a two-piece band are also being considered.

“It will be the same size it was, but it will come back bigger and better than ever,” Haber said. “I’m excited about talking to different people to get us back online.”

While the shock of the fire has yet to wear off, Haber says she will miss loyal customers and memories the most.

“I still think I’m coming in to work tomorrow,” she said. “There’s so many people that come in two or three times a week, I’m really going to miss seeing all their faces and the employees. A lot of memories came out of this building. I grew up here, it gave a closeness to everybody. I always felt my mom’s presence here even after she was gone. A part of her was in there. Now it’s gone.”

For the some 45 to 50 employees now without work, Elberta Mayor Marvin Williams has set up an account at Vision Bank where donations can be made to go toward Wolf Bay Lodge employee assistance.

Lillian’s cafe will also hold a benefit for the employees on Dec. 14., starting at 3 p.m. with music from Woody Street and Ricky Rayburn at 7 p.m. Lillian’s Cafe employees will be asking for donations at the door, and 10 percent of sales will go directly back to the lodge employees.

“I work in the industry,” Kim Warner of Lillian’s Cafe said. “I know what it’s like to live paycheck to paycheck. Then, to have just nothing coming in; so many people are out of luck now right before the holidays, we want to help them out.”

While many mourn the loss of the Elberta landmark, and the circumstances it has created, Patterson’s concern is a bit more specific.

“I just don’t know if I can live long enough without their gumbo, it’s the best,” he said.

Patterson may not have to wait very long. Haber and Bretz have already been approached by many people in Foley, Summerdale and Gulf Shores to set up a temporary, smaller version of the lodge.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.