Belgium Lake Church Inn fire; Ozaukee County historic building destroyed

BELGIUM, Wis. - Firefighters were called to Lake Church Inn in Belgium Tuesday night, May 16, a historic building in Ozaukee County. It's located off Highway D, and the building has been around since the 1800s. Fire officials said it was a total loss.

The fire started in the kitchen and spread quickly due to the fact that the building is old, officials said. It did not spread to other buildings. 

Fire at Belgium Lake Church Inn

"With these old type of buildings, there’s a lot of remodeling done in years past. There’s a lot of holes, cracks inside the walls as they add on. Once the fire gets in the cracks and crevices, there’s no way of stopping it," said Daniel Birenbaum, Belgium fire chief.

All employees and patrons of the tavern were evacuated. No injuries were reported. An employee was evaluated on scene due to exposure to heavy smoke. 

Firefighters had to fight the fire from outside because it wasn't safe for them to enter.

Fire at Belgium Lake Church Inn

With the assistance of multiple fire departments, the fire was extinguished shortly after midnight. The structure is a total loss and has been partially demolished as part of firefighting operations. 

CTH D between Lake Church Road and Harrington Beach State Park was closed for approximately six hours while crews were on scene. 

People described the Lake Church Inn in Belgium as a quaint, historic bar with some of the original tin ceilings.

Many people were devastated at the scene, talking about how it is a staple in the area.

Fire at Belgium Lake Church Inn

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The cause of the fire is undetermined but does not appear to be suspicious in nature.