Firefighters battle a massive fire Friday at the historic House of Ludington Bar & Restaurant in Escanaba. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)

ESCANABA – The House of Ludington Bar & Restaurant could be a complete loss after a massive fire broke out this morning in the historic building.

Escanaba Public Safety, UP Health System, Ford River Fire Department and the City of Escanaba Electric Department all responded after the smell of smoke was reported about 10:30 a.m. at the business, 223 Ludington St., according to reports. Flames could be seen coming from the roof as of 11:20 a.m.

Roads are blocked off, and the public is asked to avoid the area to allow crews adequate space to work.

“Due to utility interruptions caused by the fire, residents in the surrounding area may experience temporary power fluctuations or outages,” a City of Escanaba news release advised. “In addition, some households may notice temporarily discolored or ‘dirty’ water as systems stabilize. These disruptions are expected to be short-term. However, residents are encouraged to run water until it clears if discoloration occurs.”

Updates will be provided as available and Saturday’s newspapers will have a full report on the fire.