Fire destroyed a bar and apartment building in downtown Winona, Minn., early Friday.
Firefighters were still dealing with smoldering sections of the Mason Jar Bar and apartments above it late Friday morning.
The adjoining two-story buildings along E. 3rd Street are home to other apartments and businesses, including a Mexican restaurant, a print shop, a tattoo parlor and a liquor store.
Ken Siebenaler, who owns Third Street Liquors two doors down from the bar, said he was called to his store around 3 a.m. Friday. He said his business was damaged by water and that the store and apartments above were heavily damaged by smoke.
"It's a big mess here," Siebenaler said.
The southeast chapter of the American Red Cross is assisting residents affected by the fire, said disaster program specialist Dianne Thompson. The organization had assisted three residents Friday morning, she said.
Officials weren't immediately available Friday afternoon to comment on whether there were injuries.
This is the third fire in the downtown Winona area in two years. A former YWCA building that served as a children's gymnastic center burned down in September and a decades-old Islamic center and two other buildings burned down in September 2013.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Anne Millerbernd is a University of Minnesota student on assignment for the Star Tribune.
Anne Millerbernd • 651-308-7126