Investigators trying to determine cause of fire that destroyed gay nightclub

LINCOLN, Neb. — Investigators are trying to determine the cause of a weekend fire that destryed a Lincoln gay bar and knocked out power in the surrounding area for several hours.

The three alarm fire started at the Karma Nightclub and Cabaret around 7:15 p.m. Saturday. Everyone was evacuated safely, but it took several hours to control the fire.

More than 200 utility customers in the area around the club just south of downtown lost power because of the fire.

The club’s owner Kyle Baun says he was heartbroken when he arrived to see his business in flames. Karma had been open just over a year. Previously the club was called The Q.

The roof collapsed during the fire. Lincoln Fire Battalion Chief Leo Benes said the business is a total loss.

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Firefighters had to deal with water freezing on their equipment and the ground while they battled the fire.

Investigators on Sunday planned to begin looking through the debris for clues as to what caused the fire.

Bryan Ruhs, who worked as a DJ, says it was hard to watch the fire because the club was the first gay bar he ever went to after he came out at age 18.

“It’s like watching a part of my life burn away,” Ruhs said.