Fire at Market Street club closes down traffic

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

A fire at a building at West Princeton Avenue and Market Street early Friday stopped traffic for several hours as crews demolished part of the building to get at the remaining fire.

Crews managed to knock the building down, which housed the Joker’s Wrath motorcycle club, so they could get at several hot spots left over from when firefighters were called out at 4 a.m.

Youngstown Fire Chief John O’Neill said investigators still are searching for a cause.

Traffic was stopped in both directions for most of the morning to allow demolition crews to do their work.

O’Neill said the demolition was necessary because the ceiling on the first floor remained intact, and if the hot spots could not be extinguished they would ignite the entire building again. The road was reopened shortly after noon, a fire department spokesman said.

When crews arrived, the fire already was shooting out the roof, O’Neill said.

Firefighters managed to save some items from the first floor, including several bar stools, chairs and at least two sets of speakers.

No one was injured. A damage estimate was not available.