BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — It's been a staple in Downtown Bakersfield for more than two decades, but one local museum is dealing with a new set of problems after a fire this weekend.
This comes after that weekend fire which burned several other buildings downtown, as those locations shift their focus toward rebuilding.
Koral Hancharick, the Executive Director of the Buena Vista Museum, says their south wall is saturated and the basement of the museum had several inches of water flooding.
And while she does not currently know the cost of the damage, Hancharick says they do have insurance but are having trouble with paying for the cost of the deductible. She says they are just getting by, and solely relying on donations. This is a result of 8 months worth of closures.
But despite the setback, Hancharik says they are grateful that firefighters were able to save their building. She says, "it’s an icon for downtown here. It has a historical significance also. Not just museum itself, but losing the museum and losing over a million specimens would’ve just been devastating."
If you have any information on this fire: 661- 327-7111, If you would like to donate to the Buena Vista Museum: https://www.buenavistamuseum.org
