ROSENBERG, Texas – An historic Fort Bend County bar burned to the ground after a 5-alarm fire.
The fire started around 11 p.m. Tuesday at Trav's Roadhouse on FM 762 near Bridlewood Drive in Rosenberg.
Employees and customers grabbed fire extinguishers and tried to douse the flames, but it spread so fast they had to call for help.
By midnight, the fire raged out of control.
Joann Watkins said she could not believe her eyes when she saw the building burning. She said she owns the property where Tav's has been for years.
The wooden building burned for hours, even as crews from Rosenberg, Richmond, Needville, Sugar Land, and other departments worked to put it out.
Firefighters said because the area is so rural, tanker trucks had to haul in water to fight the fire.
"We are in the county area, so there are no established hydrants in the area. So water has to be brought in by tankers," said Adam Carlin, a fire investigator.
No one was hurt.
The Fort Bend County fire marshal was working to determine the cause. Some employees speculated the fire was electrical.
"Someone suggested electrical. They were open and they just started smelling smoke," Watkins said.
Trav's Roadhouse used to be a restaurant, but was recently converted to a bar for residents in the rural community.