Fire destroyed a popular bar and restaurant in Itasca County early Friday.
The Hill Bar and Restaurant on State Highway 46 in Squaw Lake was fully engulfed in flames when the Squaw Lake Fire Department arrived on scene, the Itasca County Sheriff's Office reported. The building is considered a total loss.
According to the Sheriff's Office, a report of a fire alarm was received at about 5 a.m. Friday. Upon arrival, fire crews immediately requested mutual aid, the Grand Rapids Herald-Review reported.
The Hill is owned by Danielle and Jerry Grieger, who told the Herald-Review that they "are devastated by the loss of The Hill as it reflects many years of tradition and community."
The Hill has been a center of the community for decades and was a routine stop for hunters and anglers during their stay in the area, the Herald-Review reported. On the same property is the The Hill Motel, which was not touched by the fire. The Griegers told the newspaper that they were grateful for the support of the community.
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Also responding to the scene were the Deer River, Northome and Blackduck fire departments, and Deer River Ambulance. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Minnesota State Fire Marshal's Office assisted by the Itasca County Sheriff's Office.
