FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) -- A popular restaurant exploded and burned Friday after a minor traffic crash damaged a natural gas meter behind the restaurant.
Firefighters were called to Ernie's Classic Steakhouse about 12:30 a.m. after a car struck the gas meter, fire officials said.
As they were trying to shut off the gas, the line ignited and sent a fireball through Ernie's and an adjacent building on the city's north side.
Crews quickly contained the fire inside the building, but allowed it to burn at the gas meter. A Northern Indiana Public Service Co. crew was called in to shut down the line.
Investigators were trying to determine what sparked the explosion and fire.
Both Ernie's Steakhouse and the building next door suffered heavy fire, water, and smoke damage. No injuries were reported
