MADISON, Wis. - A fire at a Wisconsin bar killed the business's two owners and two others visiting upstairs apartments early Monday, authorities said.
Firefighters watch the Silver Dollar Saloon in Blanchardville as flames are extinguished Monday, Dec. 21, 2009 after an overnight fire that killed four. The building housed the bar as well as upstairs apartments. Lafayette County Sheriff's Chief Deputy John Reichling says the fire at the Silver Dollar Saloon in Blanchardville was discovered around 3:20 a.m. Monday. (AP Photo/WMTV, Paul Lewis)
Smoke and flames could be seen about 3:20 a.m. coming out of the three-story brick building that housed the Silver Dollar Saloon in Blanchardville, a village of about 800 people 30 miles southwest of Madison, police said.
The Silver Dollar's owners - Daniel Hardekopf, 45, and Jelayne L. Hughes, 44 - as well as Cody D. Olson, 23, and Brian K. Monte, 34, were "fatally injured" in the fire, Blanchardville Police Officer Walter R. Fischer said in a statement.
Olson and Monte apparently were visiting apartments on the building's second floor when the fire began, Fischer said. His statement offered no further details and referred questions to the state Justice Department. Agency spokesman Bill Cosh said he had no additional information.
Firefighters from Blanchardville, Argyle, Hollandale, New Glarus and Monroe responded to the fire, Fischer said. Agencies including the Lafayette County Sheriff's Department, the state Justice Department's fire marshall and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms were investigating the cause.
Blanchardville insurance agent Duane Hanson, who handled the Silver Dollar, said Hardekopf and Hughes were a couple who had leased the Silver Dollar for about a year and a half.
An advertisement for the Silver Dollar on Blanchardville.com boasts the best half-pound burgers in town, free pool on Thursday nights and free juke box Saturday nights.
"It was fixed up. It was nice. They were just going to try to buy it as soon as they got the finances for it," Hanson said.
Hanson said he didn't know Monte, but Hanson's son grew up with Hardekopf and the two men hunted and sang karaoke together.
"He's taking it pretty hard," Hanson said of his son.
Hanson said he grew up with Cody Olson's father and has known Olson all his life.
Olson was close to Hardekopf and Hughes, Hanson said. He loved to play cards and "just enjoyed life," Hanson said.
"I can't ever remember where it happened we lost four young people, a historic business and a thriving business all at one time," Hanson said. "It was just a big disaster."
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