Fire department classifies damage to Red Dot bar and restaurant in Wauwatosa as 'moderate'

The Red Dot in Wauwatosa is temporarily closed after a fire broke out at the bar/restaurant during the afternoon on Monday, May 7.

The business suffered moderate damage from the fire, according to a press release from the Wauwatosa Fire Department.

The exact cause is undetermined, but appears to have started on the first floor in the southwest corner of the building. No injuries occurred as a result of this fire and initial damage estimates to the business are still being reviewed, the release said.

The Wauwatosa Fire Department encountered a significant fire on the first floor of the restaurant. The business was closed at the time of the fire, but an employee from a neighboring business noticed the fire and called 911, the release said.

Wauwatosa Police Capt. Brian Zalewski said the fire appeared to be contained at 2:30 p.m.

Police have shut down North Avenue between 67th and 69th streets while firefighters were on the scene.

Red Dot posted on its Facebook page that the length of the closure is to be determined and apologized for the inconvenience.

Nicki Pantuso, wife of former Alderman Bobby Pantuso, was getting gas with her 3-year-old son Jack when she noticed the smoke.

As she and Jack watched, there were firefighters on the roof and five or six fire trucks outside. While her son was excitedly telling people he saw a fire truck and it was putting out a fire, Nicki felt sadness.

"It is sad," she said. "Red Dot is a great restaurant."

The crowd of onlookers was beginning to disperse before 3 p.m. The Wauwatosa Fire Department was assisted by the Wauwatosa Police Department and neighboring fire departments including Milwaukee, North Shore, Brookfield and Elm Grove EMS.