Bay City News
Fire and city crews by Sunday had cleared enough debris from a Fairfield comedy club to reopen area streets following a five-alarm fire.
Surrounding streets had been closed since the blaze, reported Friday at The Original Pepperbelly's Comedy & Variety Theater, 849 Texas St.
The club appeared to be totaled in the fire, Battalion Chief Bob Stoffel said.
The fire department worked with a structural engineer, the city's chief building inspector and a contractor to remove debris and determine the safety of the building, Stoffel said.
Texas Street remained closed for much of Saturday until the area was rendered safe.
The fire in the two-story building, which dates to the 1960s, was shooting flames through the roof and some 45 feet into the air when firefighters arrived at the scene, Stoffel said.
It was brought under control at about 10:15 p.m., and all occupants escaped without injury.
No damage estimate was available Saturday.
The investigation into the fire's cause will continue Monday, Stoffel said.
Judith
Smells fishy ! ( intentional arson for insurance money )
-- Excerpt from Daily Republic article by Heather Ah San