Popular Atlantic Beach bar and grill destroyed in morning fire

ATLANTIC BEACH, N.C. (WITN) - A popular bar and grill on the Crystal Coast was destroyed by fire early this morning.

The Atlantic Beach Fire Department says firefighters from nine fire departments battled the three-alarm fire at BT’s Bar and Grill.

The restaurant is on West Fort Macon Road and has been gutted by the fire.

Fire Chief Michael Simpson says police alerted them shortly after 6:00 a.m. to the fire. When the first units arrived, fire was inside the main part of the business with flames coming out one of the windows.

“The structure is still intact but the inside has extensive fire damage throughout,” said Simpson. “The adjoining business to the west, the Posh Pelican, that one has some slight smoke damage and damage to one of the doors that the fire department had to make entry into.”

He said the main fire was knocked down in about 45 minutes to an hour, while it took another couple hours to put out the fire which had traveled into the building’s roof.

The chief said it is too early to speculate on what caused the fire, saying it is now a joint investigation with the fire department, police, and the Carteret County Fire Marshal.

Simpson said one firefighter had a medical problem, but there were no other injuries reported.