The Telegraph Herald
PLATTEVILLE, Wis. — A Saturday fire destroyed one of Platteville’s oldest buildings, which housed Chicago Best’s restaurant and several apartments.
No one in the building at 95 N. Second St. was injured.
However, two firefighters were taken to the hospital with what Platteville Fire Chief Dave Izzard called “heat fatigue.” After getting checked out at the hospital, the two firefighters returned to the scene.
Izzard said 14 people who lived in apartments above the restaurant were displaced by the fire and are being accommodated by the American Red Cross.
A cat and a dog were rescued from one apartment.
The fire started at about 10 a.m. and firefighters were on the scene until about 7:30 p.m. Police were still on the scene Saturday night, barricading the road to keep onlookers away.
The cause of the fire is not known, but Izzard said it appears the building is a total loss.
“At this point I would say so,” he said. “It’s definitely not safe to enter.”
The Chicago’s Best website says the building is one of the city’s oldest, serving as the Stage Coach Inn Hotel in 1878.
Izzard said the help of other departments was definitely appreciated.
“We got a lot of help,” he said. “I’m very grateful for that.”
Aiding were the Belmont, Cuba City, Dickeyville, Lancaster, Livingston and Potosi fire departments, Platteville and Cuba City EMS, Lancaster EMS and Rehab, Grant County Technical Rescue, Platteville Police Department, Alliant Energy, Platteville Water and Sewer Department and Platteville Street Department.
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