PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- Fire Burns Pittsburgh Motorcycle Club, Apartments

OFF THE WIRE
Sin City Disciples Club Burns On Frankstown Avenue In Homewood
PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- Investigators are sifting through the charred remains of a building on Frankstown Avenue in Homewood, trying to learn what caused a fire Tuesday morning.

Pittsburgh 911 dispatchers said the fire started around 6 a.m. in the 8000 block of Frankstown Avenue.

Channel 4 Action News' Amber Nicotra reported the building houses a motorcycle social club called Sin City Disciples, as well as residential apartments.

Club members told Nicotra that they heard someone may have thrown something inside the building before the fire.

"I don't know for sure, but they said somebody must have thrown a cocktail in the window," said Skip, one of the members of the club. "(We had) no problems with no clubs, no problems."

Fire crews have not yet determined what sparked the flames.

Sky 4 flew over the scene of the fire. At 6:30 a.m., flames could still be seen shooting out of the roof of the building.

Nicotra reported that all of the residents were able to escape the fire, thanks to someone who saw the flames and warned the people inside the building.

Kenneth Carroll was asleep inside his apartment. He told Nicotra he woke to banging on his window and managed to his escape with his dog.

"Just woke up to this fire this gentleman right next to me woke me up," Carroll said.

Nicotra reported that firefighters were actually at the scene of another fire just a few blocks away when they got the call about the Frankstown blaze.

"Luckily, there was enough of a gap between the fires where they got some rest and recovery. That is a very big concern that you have to be conscientious of overworking your crews," said Batallion Chief Tim Kopicko.

No injuries were reported.

Traffic Watch 4's Scott Stiller reported that crews closed Frankstown Road between Tokay Street and Oakwood Street while they battled the flames.

Stiller reported the site used to be the old Reicks Ice Cream building.

Nicotra reported the building suffered a lot of damage, especially in the rear.

Arson investigators have been called to the scene.

Video: http://www.wtae.com/r/28154001/detail.html