MENTONE -ÊWhen fire crews arrived at a Mentone business late Wednesday night, flames filled the building.

Around 10:28 p.m. Wednesday, Mentone firefighters were called to Nana & Dad's Broadway Tavern, 105 S. Broadway St., Mentone, and flames already engulfed the structure.

Since the building was fully involved when they arrived, firefighters were forced to fight the blaze from the outside.

"We had to take a defensive attack," said Mentone Assistant Fire Chief Bill Hardesty. "We were unable to get inside to try to knock (the flames) down."

The Burket Fire Department was called for a full assist to help protect the new Bell Memorial Library, which is next to the tavern. The library building did not sustain any damage from the blaze.

"We tried to protect the library from any damage," Hardesty said.

According to Hardesty, the fire department received a call that smoke was coming from the area of the library.

"When we arrived, we discovered the tavern was fully engulfed (in flames)," Hardesty said.

No one was in the building, which is owned by Nancy Johnson, when the fire started.

"The bar was closed and everybody had left," Hardesty said.

The cause of the fire, which started near the back of the building and moved to the front, is unknown and remains under investigation.

Hardesty estimated the damage from the blaze at around $100,000. The building is considered a total loss.

About 40 firefighters responded to the blaze, which took about 45 minutes to control. Firefighters remained at the scene approximately three hours. [[In-content Ad]]