A fire destroyed the roof and facade of the former location of Hooters restaurant on Coliseum Boulevard Monday night.
Flames were shooting through the roof of the vacant building at 920 E. Coliseum when firefighters arrived about 6:40 p.m., said Assistant Chief Chris Mounsey of the Fort Wayne Fire Department.
Firefighters “tried to make an interior attack, but the fire had developed to the point that they weren’t able to continue with that,” Mounsey said.
They backed out of the building and battled the fire from outside with help from a ladder truck, she said.
The fire gutted the inside of the building and destroyed the roof and front wall that faced Coliseum.
The flames were under control by about 7:45 p.m., Mounsey said. No firefighters were injured, she said.
Where the fire started was not clear Monday, Mounsey said, adding that the cause remains under investigation.
The fire caused authorities to shut down North Clinton Street, near Coliseum, until about 8:30 p.m.
Hooters, an international chain known for having scantily clad waitresses serve chicken wings and other tavern food and drink, closed its Fort Wayne restaurant in May without explanation.
