PHOTO: A fire ripped through a historic Waterloo restaurant on Sunday morning, destroying one of the oldest eateries in the city.
The Hickory House on Park Road, went up in flames shortly after 9 a.m. Smoke from the fire could be seen for several city blocks.
Witnesses at the scene told KWWL that a car hit the building's gas meter and drove away from the scene. Waterloo Fire Chief Pat Treloar says investigators aren't yet sure what started the fire.
"We're not sure what occurred yet," Treloar said. "We do know there was a smell of gas. We do know there was an explosion."
Waterloo Police also responded to the fire.
"Our first crew smelled gas and there was an explosion with crews on the scene," Treloar said.