June 12--Pittsburgh arson detectives and agents from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating an early-morning fire that destroyed the former clubhouse of the New Brotherhood Motorcycle Club in Homewood.
Firefighters found flames pouring from garages in the back of the building at 7319 Frankstown Ave. when they arrived about 3:45 a.m., Deputy Fire Chief Frank Large said. Investigators believe the two-alarm blaze started there.
"These garages were just roaring," he said. Fire officials estimated the cost of the damage at $40,000, a total loss, the deputy chief said. The Homewood Senior Center next door, which has been used as a cooling center in recent days, sustained smoke and water damage, investigators said. The owner of the building had been renting space to the motorcycle club, representatives of which could not be reached for comment.
A man who described himself as a building manager told investigators the New Brotherhood had been evicted on May 29 and had since taken up inside the Mac Can Do bar at Brushton Avenue and Kelly Street. He said the burned building had been open this weekend as an after-hours club.
Officials said the cause of the fire remains under investigation, as does a blaze that happened at another Homewood motorcycle club a year earlier.
Flames gutted a brick building that housed the Sin City Deciples Motorcycle Club in the 8000 block of Frankstown Avenue on the morning of June 7, 2011.
Witnesses told police at the time that they saw a man throw something into the building just before it went up in flames.
Investigators are not sure whether the fires are linked.
Sadie Gurman: [email protected] or 412-263-1878.
Copyright 2012 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
