A fire engulfed a popular bar on Tuesday morning in Sturgeon Bay, leaving some people displaced and others currently unaccounted for.
The call about the fire engulfing Butch’s Bar came into authorities shortly before 4:00 a.m. The building also has rooms for rent above the bar, according to its website, nine of which were occupied at the time of the fire.
Sturgeon Bay Assistant Police Chief Dan Brinkman updated the press at 11:00 a.m. saying that one of the occupants has been transported to a burn center and that two renters are currently unaccounted for.
“We still continue to look for the two renters who are unaccounted for. As I said before, there are twenty available rooms that were above Butch’s Bar. Nine were rented. We have two renters that are unaccounted for.”
When asked about possible fatalities, Brinkman said, “I cannot rule out the possibility of a fatality, that is correct.”
He noted that the United Way has been in contact with the renters who have been displaced, with plans to coordinate with the American Red Cross as well.
The cause of the fire is unknown and it has not spread to other buildings. Concern about the building’s structural integrity has prevented officials from entering the building any further, at this time.
Sturgeon Bay Alderman Spencer Gustafson took to Facebook to address the fire at 6:24 a.m. He offered thoughts and prayers to everyone impacted by the fire, “specifically the upstairs residents and the Cumber family. The power of community must shine brightly in the coming days as needs are discovered by the folks mentioned above. I also would like to send my thanks and support to all public safety personnel, who are currently fighting this fire within frigid weather.”
