St. Paul firefighters on Friday night quickly extinguished a fire in the building that houses Patrick McGovern’s Pub, a popular bar and restaurant near Xcel Energy Center downtown.
Patrick McGovern’s Pub in St. Paul open for business following roof fire Friday
Officials said the fire, which was quickly extinguished, might have stemmed from downed power lines. No one in the building was injured.
The Minnesota Star Tribune
December 1, 2024 at 1:28AM
The restaurant was not damaged and was open for business as usual Saturday, according to an email from McGovern’s. Managers credited fast work by firefighters and police with saving the historic structure, which was built in 1888.
Authorities said the fire damaged the roof and attic of the building, at 225 7th St. W. The fire department received the call just before midnight.
Fire officials said Saturday that an initial investigation indicated that electrical contact from downed power lines sparked the blaze when they hit the roof. They said they weren’t sure what brought down the power lines, but the restaurant in a social media post early Saturday said that a “careless driver hit a transformer and fled the scene last night.”
According to the restaurant’s email Saturday, the upper portion of a distinctive turret on the building’s exterior was “damaged by fire due to a spark from the wire.”
“We had water in the building due to the [St. Paul Fire Department] saving our building, but a restorative team came in right away and everything is water free and ready for business,” according to the email. “Everyone is safe, which is the most important part.”
Fire officials said all occupants of the three-story building escaped safely. The fire remains under investigation.
A previous version of this story should have said the fire started on the roof, not in the attic.
St. Anthony offensive lineman Jalue Dorjee deftly balances life as a teenager and reincarnated Buddhist lama recognized around the world.
