Fire strikes Lighthouse Restaurant; no injuries

The iconic Lighthouse Restaurant north of Milner on Old Hwy. 41 was ablaze Tuesday afternoon.***************©The Journal Reporter/pikecountygeorgia.com: This information may not be reprinted, broadcast or distributed electronically in any form or fashion without express consent. For reprint permission, e-mail news@pikecountygeorgia.com.***************The fire call first went out at about 4:55 p.m. The fire remained out of control at 5:30 p.m.At about 5:20 p.m. a small explosion erupted from the kitchen area. Employees gathered outside in shock said the fire probably hit the fryers in the kitchen that were full of grease.Firefighters were in the kitchen as the roof above them blazed. Fire chief Steve Andrews went to the door and alerted the firefighters of the situation.UPDATE: The 28-year-old favorite is a total loss.Lamar County fire chief Steve Andrews refuted rumors that a firefighter sustained injuries. “We had no injuries. We are good to go,” the chief said.He also refuted published reports elsewhere that lightning caused the blaze. There was no lightning in the area at the time of the blaze.The cause remains a mystery and arson investigators from the state fire marshal’s office will be on the scene Wednesday morning.Multiple fire departments assisted in battling the blaze including:Pike County, City of Griffin, City of Meansville, Spalding County, City of Forsyth and Monroe County.