Lowndes County firefighters battled a fire at Rascal’s restaurant at 4875 U.S. 41 South at Twin Lakes near Lake Park late Monday. A short in a neon sign is believed to have caused the fire.

LAKE PARK — Investigators with Lowndes County Fire and Rescue have determined the cause of a fire that damaged a Lake Park restaurant and bar Monday night.

At approximately 10 p.m., Lowndes County firefighters responded to Rascal’s Lounge and Restaurant at 4875 U.S. Highway 41 South in Lake Park.

“The cause of the fire was the neon sign that hung on the exterior of the building,” said Paige Dukes, Lowndes County clerk. “The sign shorted out and burned the siding and burned through the secondary roof areas, and at that point Lowndes County Fire and Rescue was able to stop the fire.”

Dukes said there was nothing suspicious about the fire and that the building did not suffer extensive damage.

Rascal’s will be closed this weekend while repairs and renovations are made, but the owner plans to reopen shortly after Christmas, Dukes said.