(Photo submitted) After an early-morning fire gutted popular Okoboji restaurant Tweeter's Bar and Grill, causing upwards of $1 million in damage.

An early morning fire gutted a popular Lakes area restaurant yesterday.

Tweeter's Bar and Grill, located just north of the Highway 9 bridge in Okoboji, was declared a total loss.

"It looks like it was an electrical malfunction in the dining area of the bar, probably from an electrical circuit that fed three TVs in a trophy case," said Deputy State Fire Marshal David Schipper of the Iowa State Fire Marshals Office. "It's probably going to be a total loss."

Emergency personnel was contacted by an alarm system set up in the kitchen area of the restaurant, and the Arnolds Park/Okoboji Fire Department responded at 2:26 a.m.

Before firemen could reach the property, two passersby also reported the fire to officials.

Upon arrival firefighters encountered smoke coming from the roof of the building and entered through a back north kitchen door. High heat, heavy smoke and flames had filled the restaurant as the Milford Fire Department was called for assistance. The fire was brought under control in approximately one hour.

"It was a pretty massive fire," said Schipper. "They're looking at quite a substantial loss."

Damage estimates could reach upwards of $1 million in loss of revenue, actual structure damage and the cost of replacing a University of Iowa memorabilia collection the bar and grill was known for.

"We'll be back," owner Kay Hoppe declared.

An investigation into the cause of the fire by the Arnolds Park/Okoboji Fire Department and the Iowa State Fire Marshals Office determined the area of origin was in the east wall of a stairway in the main dining area.

"There's a lot of heat and smoke damage in the bar area," Schipper said. "The fire burned a hole in the roof in one spot, and firefighters had to cut a couple more holes so they could see what they were doing."

Lakes area rescue personnel were credited with their quick response time in preserving enough of the restaurant for experts to determine a cause.

"They did a great job getting in there," said Schipper. "Their response time really gave us a chance to get in there."

Schipper estimated the fire to have started at approximately 1 a.m., burning for nearly an hour and a half before it was discovered.

No injuries to staff or firefighters were reported. Tweeter's Bar and Grill was closed at the time of the fire.

The Arnolds Park/Okoboji Fire Department was assisted at the scene by the Milford Fire Department, Dickinson County Sheriff's Office, Arnolds Park/Okoboji Police Department, Milford Police Department, Lakes Regional Hospital and the Iowa State Fire Marshals Office.