R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press Smoke obscures Mo’s Pub as a fire that began in the kitchen spreads and firefighters work to put it out.

ESCANABA — A fire that broke out in the kitchen of Mo’s Pub in Escanaba prompted an hours-long siege against the blaze, with firefighters battling both flames and the summer heat.

Escanaba Public Safety was dispatched to the fire at the restaurant, which is located at 2116 Ludington St., at approximately 1:18 p.m. on a report of a kitchen fire. When officers arrived on scene, smoke was coming through a portion of the building’s roof and two people were still inside.

All individuals were able to exit the building.

The back of the building, where the kitchen area was, was heavily damaged by the fire and firefighting efforts. An excavator was used to access portions of the back of the building.

Most of the building’s facade on Ludington Street remained intact. Small windows made of glass bricks were destroyed during the incident, but the large windows on the corner of North 22nd Street and Ludington Street remained unscathed.

The fire caused a large amount of smoke in the area, and firefighting efforts prompted utility disruptions for people in the area. Water was temporarily discolored in the area from 3rd Avenue North to 1st Avenue South and along Ludington Street, and restaurants and food service establishments were advised not to use soda machines, coffee makers, ice machines or other water-fed equipment until water was running clear again.

Also during the fire, the Escanaba Electric Department de-energized overhead lines, which caused a power outage for electric customers on the north side of Ludington Street between North 16th Street and North Lincoln Road.

Assisting Escanaba Public Safety at the scene included the Delta County Sheriff’s Department, Delta County Search and Rescue, Escanaba Township Fire Department, Ford River Township Fire Department, Bark River Township Fire Department, Stephenson Fire Department, the Menominee Fire Department, Nadeau Township Fire Department, Mullen Township Fire Department, Rampart EMS, Michigan State Police, the Red Cross, the Escanaba Water Department, and Escanaba City Electric. Other groups, including Elmer’s County Market, provided food and cold drinks to assist the firefighters.

Ilsa Minor | Daily Press
Firefighters regroup near the broken windows of Mo’s Pub in Escanaba Monday. A kitchen fire turned into a firefighting effort that brought in multiple departments from across Delta and Menominee counties.