Flames burn through the back of Traveler's Restaurant on Highway 25. (Nov. 8, 2012/FOX Carolina)TRAVELERS REST, SC (FOX Carolina) -
Firefighters in Travelers Rest rushed to the scene of a restaurant fire on Highway 25 early Thursday morning.
According to FOX Carolina reporter Will Jones, flames could be seen coming from the roof at Traveler's Restaurant just after 3 a.m. He spoke with the man who called 911 when he saw flames coming from the back of the restaurant while driving by about 2:45 a.m.
Chief Lee Kelly with the North Greenville Fire Department said the fire doesn't appear to be suspicious and may have started near the kitchen where the power lines come into the building. He said the building is a total loss.
SLIDESHOW: Flames burn through restaurant's roof
Part of Highway 25 was shutdown as crews try and put out the fire. Kelly said 15 years ago the restaurant caught fire but it was not nearly as bad. He said Thursday's fire took a long time to fight because of all the added material from the remodeling after the first fire.
According to the restaurant's Facebook page, Traveler's Restaurant was established in 1959 and has been family-owned since 1974.
The granddaughter of the restaurant's owner was on scene to assess the damage and told FOX Carolina that some food that was unharmed from the freezer will be donated to a local homeless shelter and food banks.
No word on what started the fire, and there have been no reports of injuries so far.
A fund has been set up for the restaurant's employees. Anyone who wants to help can go to any Bank of Travelers Rest branch and make a donation to the Traveler's Restaurant Employee Fund.
Red Door Realty, located across the street from the restaurant, is also taking donations for the 15 employees at Traveler's Restaurant.
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