MIFFLINBURG, Pa. — Fire heavily damaged a bar and restaurant in Union County.
Crews were called to the Forest House Hotel along Buffalo Road in West Buffalo Township, near Mifflinburg, around 3:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Employees at the Forest House Hotel were busy boarding up the windows at the fire-damaged restaurant Wednesday morning.
One person was inside an apartment above the restaurant when the fire started and made it out safely.
"To wake up at four o'clock and hear that, there's nothing else like that, " Brayden Nogle said.
Crews believe the fire started in the kitchen.
The Forest House Hotel was built as a cabin in 1864 and is one of Union County's oldest operating businesses.
Garett Walls and Brayden Nogle work there.
"It's a lot of the same crowd most nights, people who live out here in forest hill," Nogle said.
"A lot of family friends, local people, all like one big family, I'd say. Everybody always comes in, we're all close, and we all know each other," Walls said.
The Forest House has an active catering business, and the owners are trying to figure out how to accommodate customers. For now, many of those customers are reaching out to the owners. After people heard about the fire, they showed up to give hugs and support.
"Mel and Matt do a lot, the owners. They do a lot for everybody. They do a lot for the local community, so I feel like everybody is trying to give back to them, too," Walls said.
"It just shows how much the community supports us and appreciates what we do. A lot of people have stopped by just to say prayers and make sure everybody is OK, and nobody got hurt," Nogle added.
The owners say they hope to rebuild the restaurant.
A state police fire marshal is expected here to figure out what caused the fire.