For the second time in six months, a large structure fire has broken out at an iconic bar in Buffalo’s Allentown neighborhood.

Firefighters say they were called to Mulligan’s Brick Bar shortly before 4 a.m. Sunday as smoke and flames could be seen engulfing the structure.  

Officials say Allen Street from Wadsworth Street to Elmwood Avenue is closed until further notice. Acting Buffalo Mayor Chris Scanlon asks that residents avoid the scene as an investigation is ongoing and the structure is unsafe.

No injuries were reported and officials do not believe anyone was inside when the fire started.

Scanlon says at this point in the investigation there is no reason to suspect arson.

Buffalo Fire Department Commissioner William Renaldo says multiple hot spots remain that fire crews have not been able to access. 

"At the very least, there's going to be a partial demolition," Renaldo said Sunday. "At some time, pretty much the whole structure will come down."

City officials say the fire originated on the first floor and spread quickly throughout the entire building. Renaldo says the roof of the building partially collapsed about 10 minutes after the fire and most of the roof eventually fell to the first floor.

Renaldo says crews battling the blaze were met with a low visibility and a high volume of fire in the building's rear. Crews ultimately were evacuated and relied on aerial ladders where water was poured on the fire.

Buffalo fire officials estimate the fire caused $1.5 million in structural damage and an additional $600,000 in damage to the building’s contents. 

"The situation that took place here this morning at Mulligan’s Brick Bar was devastating to the building [and] devastating to the community," Scanlon said. "This building is not just historic in nature, but culturally significant as well. This is a place where people gathered in good times and in bad, shared memories, shared laughter [and] met spouses. The memories and those stories go on and on."

Mulligan’s Brick Bar is located next to the former site of The Old Pink, which was destroyed in a fire last June. 

"It's been a tough year for the Allentown community here along this strip," Scanlon said.

Officials said it is still under investigation whether this incident is at all tied to the fire that occurred at The Old Pink.

Officials also say they are working to identify artifacts to preserve the cultural heritage of the bar and pieces from the building will be preserved if possible.

"When we have these buildings that are both historical and cultural assets in the city and we end up with very unfortunate circumstances like we have here, what can we do to mitigate the loss and we're working on a partnership with a professor from UB architecture to identify artifacts that could be salvaged both on the exterior and then in the debris pile itself to find a way to preserve these and keep them for future generations," said Catherine Amdur, commissioner of permit and inspection services for the city of Buffalo.

"These buildings can’t be replaced, to start with," said Josh Wilson, vice president of the Allentown Association. "The thing with historic buildings is we can build new stuff, we can build beautiful new stuff, but the old stuff once it’s gone its gone forever."

"My initial reaction was of course just devastation and sadness not only for this preservation district but just for the neighborhood in general," said Allentown resident Karna Holmes.