St. Paul firefighters on Friday night quickly extinguished a fire in the building that houses Patrick McGovern’s pub, a popular bar and eatery near Xcel Energy Center downtown.
McGovern’s pub in St. Paul spared, 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
November 30, 2024 at 8:19PM
The restaurant was not damaged and open for business as usual Saturday, according to an email message 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 started in the attic of the building, at 225 W. 7th St., and spread to the roof. The call came into the fire department just before midnight.
Fire officials said Saturday that an initial investigation of the cause of the fire pointed toward electrical contact from downed power lines in front of the building. They said they weren’t sure what brought down the power lines, but the restaurant in a social media posting early Saturday said “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 remained under investigation.
Officials said the fire, which was quickly extinguished, might have stemmed from downed power lines. No one in the building was injured.
