Overnight Fire Destroys 3 Businesses In Atwater

ATWATER (AP) - A town in west-central Minnesota is facing a devastating loss: a fire destroyed three of the town's main businesses.

Residents and business owners are in shock after a fire around 1 a.m. took down the roofs and most of the walls of each of the connected buildings.

The fire is believed to have started in the Phat Pheasant Pasta & Brew restaurant and spread to Holm Brothers Plumbing and Heating and Peterson Hardware. The police chief says each is a total loss.

About three-fourths of the community of about 1,000 was without power for two hours Monday morning because an electrical transformer was damaged by the fire.