FOUNTAIN CITY, Wis. - The Golden Frog Saloon will reopen soon, one of its co-owners vowed Friday as he stood inside the fire-damaged business.

A blaze Thursday night severely damaged portions of the building, particularly the dining area, where flames consumed much of the interior ceiling and ripped through portions of the exterior roof. But the bar area of the business, 112 N. Shore Drive, was largely unscathed, and could be opened in "a few days," co-owner Rick Black said.

"We want to get that back open as soon as we can," he said.

Black's wife, a bartender and two customers were in the saloon when a fire was reported just before 5:45 p.m. Thursday. They escaped safely, Black said.

"I just thank God no one was hurt," he said.

Fire crews were quickly dispatched to the scene, and more than 30 firefighters from the Fountain City, Tri Community and Arcadia-Glencoe fire departments spent nearly four hours battling the blaze. Still, the fire ripped through the dining room and raced up a wall into the building's uninhabited second story, where it surged through the roof in spots.

The dining area, which can seat 45 to 50 people, was a scene of destruction Friday. Chairs lay toppled on the ground next to tables singed by flames. The entire room was covered in a gloppy mixture of ash, charred wood and water-logged insulation. The smell of charred wood filled the air.

The cause of the fire remains unknown, but co-owner John Jaszewski said Thursday night that the blaze might have started in the kitchen. A state fire marshal was expected to arrive at the business Friday afternoon.

The devastating fire at the Golden Frog, one of Fountain City's landmark businesses, which was founded in 1878, comes about eight months after the new owners bought the business. Just two weeks ago, they unveiled a new menu, Black said.

Golden Frog bartenders may soon be serving patrons again, but the owners say they're not sure when customers may be able to order off that menu again. They have fire insurance, and part of the timetable may depend on when they receive an insurance payment, they said.

"We'll see what the insurance company does," he said. "We don't know yet."