Fire destroys Tweeter's Bar and Grill

Tag : Bar And Grill

Damage estimated near $1 million
An early morning fire gutted a popular Lakes area restaurantyesterday.
Tweeter's Bar and Grill, located just north of the Highway 9 bridgein Okoboji, was declared a total loss.
"It looks like it was an electrical malfunction in the dining areaof the bar, probably from an electrical circuit that fed three TVsin a trophy case," said Deputy State Fire Marshal David Schipper ofthe Iowa State Fire Marshals Office. "It's probably going to be atotal loss."
Emergency personnel was contacted by an alarm system set up in thekitchen area of the restaurant, and the Arnolds Park/Okoboji FireDepartment responded at 2:26 a.m.
Before firemen could reach the property, two passersby alsoreported the fire to officials.
Upon arrival firefighters encountered smoke coming from the roof ofthe building and entered through a back north kitchen door. Highheat, heavy smoke and flames had filled the restaurant as theMilford Fire Department was called for assistance. The fire wasbrought under control in approximately one hour.
"It was a pretty massive fire," said Schipper. "They're looking atquite a substantial loss."
Damage estimates could reach upwards of $1 million in loss ofrevenue, actual structure damage and the cost of replacing aUniversity of Iowa memorabilia collection the bar and grill wasknown for.
"We'll be back," owner Kay Hoppe declared.
An investigation into the cause of the fire by the ArnoldsPark/Okoboji Fire Department and the Iowa State Fire MarshalsOffice determined the area of origin was in the east wall of astairway in the main dining area.
"There's a lot of heat and smoke damage in the bar area," Schippersaid. "The fire burned a hole in the roof in one spot, andfirefighters had to cut a couple more holes so they could see whatthey were doing."
Lakes area rescue personnel were credited with their quick responsetime in preserving enough of the restaurant for experts todetermine a cause.
"They did a great job getting in there," said Schipper. "Theirresponse time really gave us a chance to get in there."
Schipper estimated the fire to have started at approximately 1a.m., burning for nearly an hour and a half before it wasdiscovered.
No injuries to staff or firefighters were reported. Tweeter's Barand Grill was closed at the time of the fire.
The Arnolds Park/Okoboji Fire Department was assisted at the sceneby the Milford Fire Department, Dickinson County Sheriff's Office,Arnolds Park/Okoboji Police Department, Milford Police Department,Lakes Regional Hospital and the Iowa State Fire Marshals Office.