ROSEDALE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — After a historic restaurant suffered major damage and loss after it caught fire on Monday evening, Indiana State Fire Marshal investigators are now seeking information from the public about any possible suspicious activity.
According to a news release from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, the historic Rod & Gun Steakhouse, located at 2525 E. Lambert Ave suffered significant fire damage just after 10:00 p.m. on Monday, December 11. The release notes that the fire “grew so large that more than a dozen departments responded,” and that when crews arrived on scene they found, “flames coming through the roof of the building.”
The release notes that as the investigation continued, fire officials said the owner called and made the report after noticing a fire in an upstairs apartment in the building. According to the release, the fire is believed to have started in a van near the building, but the actual cause of the fire is still under investigation.
The Rod & Gun Club, “was once known as a hideaway for gangsters and politicians during the Prohibition Era,” the release reads, also noting that the original building also was impacted by a fire in 1970 and a new building was built on the same site.
The fire resulted in a near-total loss for building’s current owner, who noted the loss of a significant amount of memorabilia.
Law enforcement and fire officials encourage anyone with any information about possible suspicious activity near the area during the time of the incident to contact the Indiana Arson hotline at 1-800-382-4628.
