Massive fire causes roof to collapse as firefighters work to put out hot spots at Buckhead Saloon

Atlanta fire crews remain at the scene after a fire erupted at a popular Buckhead restaurant and bar early Monday morning.

Channel 2 Action News viewers, as well as our network of cameras around metro Atlanta, were able to pick up pictures of the smoke from the Buckhead Saloon along Roswell Road billowing high up into the air.

The smoke could be seen for miles. The fire has caused extensive damage to the Buckhead business.

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Part of the roof collapsed in the front of the business.

Kerry Mitchell told Channel 2′s Larry Spruill that he cleans the building every morning. When he arrived around 8 a.m. Monday, he found the Buckhead Saloon burning.

“I saw the building engulfed in flames,” Mitchell said. “A big cloud of smoke, just going up in the air.”

Atlanta Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Jason McLain said his firefighters were at the fire station just a few buildings over when they saw the smoke and quickly responded.

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“A lot of the fire at this point is very deep seeded. There’s been a major roof failure, roof collapse in the building,” McLain said.

For hours, Atlanta fire blocked off parts of Roswell Road as crews battled the second alarm blaze.

McLain said says because of the lay out and structure of the building, fighting the fire was tricky.

“We’re having to utilize those ladder pipes, to get to the fire that’s underneath that roof collapse,” McLain said.

Helen Cleveland said she could feel the intensity of the fire, at Buckhead Saloon. She’s the owner of “Piece of Cake,” right next to the saloon.

Cleveland said she was one of the first ones to see the flames.

“The windows blew out of the back. The fire was just unbelievable,” Cleveland said. “It’s just crazy.”

Cleveland said she’s sad for her neighbors.

“It’s been there forever. We’ve been neighbors forever,” Cleveland said.

Erica Glass said this is a huge loss.

“This is just such a big part of the community. It’s crazy that Buckhead Saloon is gone,” Glass said. “Honestly, I didn’t think it would be gone.”

Firefighters evacuated everyone from the Buckhead Village lofts, but neighbors have been allowed back in.

Thankfully, no one was inside Buckhead Saloon at the time of the fire and no one was hurt. The cause fire is still under investigation.

This is the second popular Buckhead business to catch fire in the past two weeks.

On Sept. 20, Atlanta firefighters were called to the Tin Lizzy’s Cantina on Piedmont Road near Roswell Road just before 6 a.m.

Fire officials told Channel 2 Action News that the building was not a total loss, thanks to brick walls on the exterior of the building.

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