A fire early this morning burned down Full Throttle, a popular saloon that prides itself as being the "world's largest biker bar," in Sturgis, N.D.
The fire was first reported a little after midnight, and responding crews at the scene could see smoke rising from the roof of the main building, according to Ranch Radio KBHB.
"It was not fully engulfed at that time," Sturgis Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Shawn Barrows said. "We saw heavy smoke coming out of the eaves or soffits of the main building."
Soon, however, the entire facility was engulfed in flames, with the blaze spreading to nearby buildings.
As the building continued to burn, more than 40 firefighters worked to put the fire under control, but their task soon became increasingly difficult. Due to a lack of fire hydrants or a ready water supply at the site, water had to be trucked in and held in holding tanks. Furthermore, due to the heat and smoke emanating from the building, firefighters were forced to battle the blaze from the outside in a "surround and drown tactic," according to KRMG.
Despite their efforts, the building completely burned to the ground by 3 a.m. However, no injuries were reported.
Saloon employee Dean Mauldin, who was looking over the smoldering wreckage Tuesday morning, said it gave him a sick feeling, according to the Argus Leader.
"Eleven years of my life burned up right here," he said.
Investigators are unsure of what caused the fire but believe it was accelerated by an adjoining distillery that contained 500 gallons of grain alcohol.
