Fire at Hagerstown bar and restaurant

HAGERSTOWN, Ind. (WISH/AP) - Firefighters were battling a fire that started in a building that formerly housed a well-known eastern Indiana restaurant Saturday afternoon in Hagerstown.

The Palladium-Item of Richmond reports the downtown Hagerstown restaurant that was known for 60 years as Welliver's Smorgasbord was heavily damaged by the fire.

The restaurant had operated as Willie & Red's since 2010 and is located at 40 East Main Street.

Firefighters from virtually all of Wayne County combatted the blaze, which threatened other downtown buildings as hundreds of onlookers crowded downtown streets.

Willie & Red's co-owner Penny Wickes says the staff was preparing to serve dinner when power went out about 3:30 p.m, about 30 minutes before opening. Smelling smoke, employees called the fire department but the blaze on the roof quickly spread.

The restaurant was established in 1946 by Guy Welliver.

The fire remains under investigation.

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