APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) – Portions of Washington Street and Appleton Street will be closed temporarily after a downtown fire Wednesday morning.
The fire started on the first floor of Author’s Kitchen + Bar on North Appleton Street.
Eight people escaped injury from the four apartments that were located above.
Residents in apartments above the restaurant noticed smoke and reported the fire shortly after 2 a.m.
All residents of the four apartments will be relocated after the roof of the building collapsed.
Because of the collapse, there are concerns about the walls of the building falling down. As a precaution, temporary road closures are being put in place around the restaurant on Washington Street and Appleton Street.
A temporary walkway will be created for people to walk around the site on Appleton St. and Washington St. People walking south on Appleton St. will use a barricaded path cross the intersection by the restaurant.
Traffic will be restricted to westbound traffic only on Washington St. between Appleton St. and Oneida St. Vehicles will be able to turn south onto Appleton St., but should use caution in the area as the lane will be narrowed because of concurrent work on the demolition of the Blue Ramp which also has temporary fencing closing off the sidewalk around the ramp.
The restrictions will remain in place until the walls of the building are either stabilized or torn down. Follow our social media channels for updates on the temporary closures.
