BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- Officials are discussing the emergency demolition of Mulligan's Brick Bar on Allen Street after a large fire broke out early Sunday morning, which caused extensive damage to the building, city officials said in a press conference. According to police, an officer noticed smoke coming from the building just before 4 a.m. and fire crews were dispatched to the area. "They [fire crews] entered through the first floor front and they were confronted with heavy smoke, heavy heat conditions," said Buffalo Fire Department Commissioner William Rinaldo. "They made their initial push, but after a few minutes it was determined that it was too dangerous to be in there and there was a significant amount of fire in the rear of the building, which they couldn't reach." Crews are battling a large fire at Mulligan’s Brick Bar in Allentown @news4buffalo pic.twitter.com/ufNgecgLRK— Cullen Tonge (@tongec2018) January 5, 2025 Acting Buffalo Mayor Chris Scanlon said in a post on social media just before 9 a.m. that the fire was under control and there were no injuries. No one was in the building at the time of the fire, he said in the press conference, and there are no private residences in the building. Just before 10:30 a.m., crews were still hosing the building down with water. Daylight reveals the destruction of another Allentown icon — Mulligan’s Brick Bar. Flames devoured the building early this morning. We’re told no one was injured. We’ll carry a news conference from city leaders at 11 a.m. on https://t.co/POFgoQ2Txu. @news4buffalo pic.twitter.com/z3uFQ2mY0Q— Patrick Ryan (@patryanreports) January 5, 2025 Both Scanlon and Rinaldo said there is currently no reason to suspect that the fire was caused by arson. The building is sectioned off as of Sunday afternoon due to what Rinaldo called active hot spots that crews can't access. "At the very least, there's going to be a partial demolition and at some time, pretty much the whole structure will come down at some time today," Rinaldo said. Allen Street from Wadsworth Street to Elmwood Avenue is closed until further notice. Officials are asking the public to avoid the area for investigative purposes and safety. With the whole roof having caved in, the building was described as very unstable. Mulligan's Brick Bar, located at 229 Allen St., is next to the former site of The Old Pink, which was destroyed in a fire back in June. The fire caused an estimated $1.25 million, resulting in its demolition. 40-year-old John W. Burns of Buffalo was arrested and charged with setting fire to The Old Pink in September. When asked if officials are looking into residents now associating Burns with the Mulligan's fire, police said Buffalo fire is still investigating and there is currently no connection between the two. Buffalo Common Council Member Mitch Nowakowski, who represents the district Mulligan's is in, called Sunday an "incredibly sad day" and spoke about the bar's cultural significance in Allentown. "These structures, like the Brick Bar and The Pink and Nietzsche's and this block of Allen Street are establishments that always stay the same even though the world changed," he said. "Memories that people have at the Brick Bar are elements of what make you a Buffalonian because of its iconic nature and the history that it has on all of our hearts and our experiences here in the city of Buffalo and in Allentown." Executive Director of the Buffalo History Museum Melissa Brown is working with an architecture professor at the University at Buffalo to try and save artifacts from the building. The cause of the Mulligan's fire remains under investigation. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. Watch city officials' full press conference on the fire in the video player above. Latest Local News April Baskin sworn in as state senator for 63rd district Fire causes $130K in damage to Buffalo home, displaces 3 Officials discuss demolition of Mulligan’s Brick Bar after large fire breaks out Back-to-back fires at Howlett St. house ‘To know her was to love her’: Family remembers fire victim Katie Skoog joined the News 4 team in April 2024. She is a graduate from the University at Buffalo. You can view more of her work here.