Fort Scott ? As firefighters doused smoldering ruins and investigators began their work, city officials Saturday talked about rebuilding the part of the historic downtown where a wind-whipped fire raged the day before.

Fire Chief Jeff Davis said at least seven buildings were destroyed and another half dozen damaged, adding that no injuries were reported. City Manager Richard Nienstedt said between seven and nine buildings would be demolished after investigators complete their work.

“It was a heck of a fire to get our hands on,” Davis said. “The wind took it and did its own thing. We were throwing every drop of water we could come up with.”

Nienstedt said 10 to 15 fire departments from surrounding communities worked to contain the blaze. Also, two Kansas Army National Guard helicopters flew in and dropped water from overhead.

Strong wind fanned the blaze, which started just before 2 p.m. Friday at a bar in the middle of one of three blocks of historic buildings on Main Street, Mayor Gary Billionis said.

He said about two-thirds of the block was lost to the fire, which reached the roof of the building housing the bar and then jumped from roof to roof.

City officials estimated property loss to be in the millions of dollars, and said there still was no indication what caused the blaze.

State and federal investigators began surveying the damage caused when the floors of the two- and three-floor buildings collapsed, leaving just exterior shells. Officials blocked off the area, fearing some of the walls of the damaged buildings might collapse.

Kevin Kitterman, a state fire marshal investigator, said it would take several days to complete the investigation.

A Pittsburg firefighter directs water onto a burning building in downtown Fort Scott on Friday. The fire destroyed at least seven buildings, Fort Scott Fire Chief Jeff Davis said, and more may have to be demolished. No one was reported injured.

About 50 downtown merchants met with officials Saturday morning at City Hall. Some whose stores weren’t damaged by the fire were anxious to get back to their businesses, but Nienstedt counseled patience.

The city manager said after the damaged buildings are torn down, they will be rebuilt to conform with the historic nature of the downtown area.

“This is going to be our phoenix project,” Nienstedt said.

History is very much part of this southeast Kansas town of 8,200, with old buildings, brick streets and the Fort Scott Historic Site, built as an Army post in 1842.

The fort is less than two blocks from the fire, and visitors Saturday watched a Kansas Highway Patrol helicopter take off and land there several times as it took officials for an aerial survey of damage.

Along Main Street, many of the buildings are between 100 and 140 years old. They house antique stores, gift shops, restaurants, other retail shops and offices.

“We lost a tremendous amount of history for our town yesterday, but the history of the fire is now part of the history of our town,” the mayor told those at City Hall. “We haven’t lost everything. We will have to find a way to come out of this better.”

Nienstedt said at least seven of the fire-damaged buildings were occupied. One occupant was John Gray, territory manager for Life Touch photography.

“We lost 100 percent of everything we owned,” Gray said. “We are going to find another building so we can continue our business

Judy Renard, who owns a gift shop a block from the damaged buildings, considers herself lucky. She said the fire may hurt tourism in the short term, but added, “We’re going to rebuild and be competitive. People will return.”

She said the town still plans to conduct its annual Good Ol’ Days celebration June 4-5.

“We’ll be starting on the road of recovery by then,” she said.