Fire damages Brathaus bar Friday night

Bowling Green Fire Division responded to a fire at Brathaus bar, at 115 E. Court St., Friday night.

The call came in at 10:12 p.m., according to Fire Division Lt. Mike Leestma. When firefighters arrived, they found a small fire that had started at the base of a front corner of the bar. The bar had been evacuated and police officers had tried to put out the fire with a fire extinguisher.

The fire traveled up the wall to the bar’s overhang. The upstairs apartment had a light haze of smoke, but otherwise was not affected by the fire.

The first and second floors were ventilated by the firefighters, and the area of the fire was repeatedly soaked to put out any possible hot spots, Leetsma said.

Some witnesses reported seeing a burning cigarette or cigar in the vicinity of the fire’s origin. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, Leetsma said.

Firefighters returned to the station at 11 p.m.

Fire Chief Bill Moorman said the bar opened again Friday night – after cleaning up immediately after the fire.