DELAVAN TOWNSHIP -- What apparently began as a grease fire in a fryer about 1:30 p.m Friday quickly spread to engulf Mulligan's Sports Pub and Grill at 188 Hwy 50, in the Delavan Inlet Friday.

Joe Vitacca, who was working as a bartender at the time the fire broke out, said he saw flames coming from the fryer. Employees called 911, and shortly after police arrived the building was evacuated.

The restaurant had been open since 11 a.m. and a couple of customers were in the dining room at the time, Vitacca said. There also were several people in an upstairs apartment, but everyone was able to get out safely.

Despite being only a few yards from the Delavan Lake Inlet, water had to be trucked in to battle the blaze because the lake remains frozen.

Flames shot through the roof and black smoke billowed into the air as firefighters attempted to open portions of the roof to extinguish the blaze.

Two aerial ladder tracks sprayed water from above.