An electrical malfunction started the fire that caused an estimated $200,000 in damage to Blackbeard’s, a longtime restaurant and lounge in Washington, according the Washington Fire-Rescue-EMS Department.

The fire started in an office area within the restaurant section of the structure, according to a news release issued by Robbie Rose, chief of the department. The building housing the restaurant and lounge was unoccupied when the fire was discovered by an employee reporting to work.

About 30 firefighters from Washington and the Bunyan Volunteer Fire Department responded to the fire Saturday afternoon. They responded with three engines, a ladder truck, an equipment truck and two EMS units.

Washington firefighters/EMTs responded to the fire at 2:34 p.m. Upon their arrival, they encountered heavy smoke and flames in the restaurant section of the building. Fire officials on the scene determined a second alarm was required, with Bunyan Chief Wes Williams and Bunyan firefighters responding to a mutual-aid call from the city department. They assisted with tactical operations, according to the news release.

“The heaviest fire damage was contained to the restaurant area with smoke and heat damage extending through the entire facility, including the lounge and oyster bar areas,” according to the release.

“There were no injuries,” Rose said during a brief interview Monday.

Firefighters spent about three and a half hours battling the blaze, performing salvage work and cleaning up the fire scene, Rose said.

Washington Electric Utilities workers also responded to the scene.

“They had to pull the power off the building,” Rose said.

WEU workers and equipment were at Blackbeard’s on Sunday.

“They were probably ensuring the (electric) services was dropped. … They were probably making sure the transformer was de-energized so that any work being done there could be done safely,” said WEU Director Keith Hardt on Monday.

Rebuilding Blackbeard’s could require meeting newer, stricter building codes and health regulations than those in place when the building was first constructed.

“I’ve met with Mr. (A.G.) Swanner, and he, at this point, is making a determination of what he wants to do around there,” said Allen Pittman, a building inspector with the city, on Monday. “He’s trying to determine if he’s going to rebuild, or to what extent he’s going to rebuild. When he makes that determination, we’ll have to go through his plans and see to what extent he’s rebuilding. If he’s over 50 percent damaged, certain things will come in to play č the flood zone and also the new (building) codes. He’ll have to come into full compliance with the health department as well.”

The fire caused at least one local civic group to relocate an event. The Washington Evening Lions Club had planned to hold an awards banquet at Blackbeard’s on Monday night. The event, partly to honor Dr. Charles Baltimore, an ophthalmologist, was relocated to the Golden Corral in Washington.

On Jan. 5, Swanner, owner of Blackbeard’s, and his family had to deal with an explosion aboard the Belle of Washington, a dinner-cruise ship docked at the Washington waterfront.

That explosion likely was caused by the ignition of built-up hydrogen gas in the vessel’s battery department, according to Washington fire officials.

The Belle of Washington received minor damage and no one was injured as the result of the explosion, said Washington fire Lt. Jonathan Hardin, who served as incident commander. The vessel is 85 feet long and 18 feet wide.