Escanaba Public Safety was dispatched about 1:18 p.m. Eastern time to the restaurant, 2116 Ludington St., on a report of a kitchen fire. When officers arrived, smoke was coming through a portion of the building’s roof and two people were still inside, though all were able to get out.

The back of the building that had the kitchen area 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 and Ludington streets 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 Third Avenue North to First Avenue South and along Ludington Street. 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.

Firefighters regroup Monday near the broken windows of Mo's Pub in Escanaba. What started as a kitchen fire turned into an effort that required multiple departments from across Delta and Menominee counties. (Ilsa Minor/Daily Press photo)

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 fire 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.

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Ilsa Minor can be reached at 906-786-2021 or iminor@dailypress.net.