An early morning fire destroyed a Murrells Inlet restaurant located on the Marsh Walk early Wednesday and crews have a portion of U.S. 17 Business closed while they extinguish hot spots and investigate the case of the blaze, according to authorities.

Firefighters with Murrells Inlet-Garden City Fire Department were called to Dead Dog Saloon at 4:17 a.m. Wednesday and found heavy fire coming from the center of the building located at 4079 U.S. 17 Business, said Norman Knight, chief for the Murrells Inlet-Garden City Fire District.

U.S. 17 Business in the area near the restaurant will be closed until fire and emergency crews leave the scene and motorists should find an alternative route. Firefighters from Midway and Surfside Beach also responded to the blaze and provided assistance.

“We had a large volume of fire when we got here,” Knight said. “The fact that it butts up on the Marsh Walk itself hindered us a little bit. We were able to get an elevated stream and lines on the Marsh Walk to get to it.”Firefighters spent about 30 minutes battling the blaze before they got it under control. At 9 a.m. Wednesday, crews continued to douse hot spots with water as fire investigators searched for a cause of the blaze.

“We were able to get it under control in a relatively small amount of time considering the large fire we had,” Knight said. “Everything was contained to the footprint of this building. The building sustained heavy fire though.”Much of the building was destroyed and the outdoor deck facing the marsh only had part of the frame standing.

Restaurant employees reported leaving the building about 2 a.m. and Knight said the fire had been burning for a while before it was reported just after 4 a.m. Wednesday.