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Fire heavily damages iconic southwestern Indiana diner

MOUNT VERNON, Ind. (AP) – A fire has heavily damaged an iconic southwestern Indiana diner.

The fire at Dean’s Diner in downtown Mount Vernon broke out before 2 a.m. Friday. Mount Vernon Fire Chief Wes Dixon tells the Evansville Courier & Press heavy smoke and fire were coming from the building when firefighters first arrived on the scene and it took them an hour to get the blaze under control.

Dixon says the occupants of a second-floor apartment got out safely. A firefighter was treated at the scene for minor injuries.

Dixon called Dean’s a “community icon” that was popular among firefighters, among others in the city 20 miles west of Evansville. He says the owners haven’t decided if they’ll rebuild or relocate.

The chief says the cause of the fire wasn’t immediately determined.