Oar House Destroyed By Fire

A fire at a well-known Pensacola restaurant has left 90 people jobless. The blaze at the Oar House near downtown caused over a million dollars in damages.

"It was a Father's Day I won't forget," says owner Leo Cyr. "When I got up here at about six a-m yesterday, I had a real pit in my stomach."

Cyr says the fire started in the back dining room and quickly spread. The entire waterfront eatery is in shambles.

"It's horrible," says customer Laura Pinch. "I love their seafood and the atmosphere is great. I hope they can open up again real soon."

Cyr says he hopes to re-open later this week with a limited menu. Cyr says he'll use a portable kitchen and food-prep area outside near the volleyball court.

"I've got 90 employees I'm worried about now. They need to get paid. But the good thing is nobody was hurt. This is all just stuff. We can rebuild and will will."

Local restaurants have offered to find work for the 90 or so displaced workers until the Oar House can be rebuilt. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.