A fire tore through Riley’s Pour House in Carnegie Thursday afternoon, destroying the popular pub.
The building at 215 East Main St. caught fire at around 1:15 p.m., according to Allegheny County 911.
Abbey Fickley, of West Mifflin, has worked at the bar since 2020 and now fills in seasonally. She said a fryer caught on fire, and then that hit a gas line.
“And that was a problem,” she said.
Melody Morrison’s sister works at Riley’s.
“The flames were going for well over an hour,” said Morrison, who lives in Carnegie. “They had water dumping down on it, but they could not get the flames out. It was unbelievable.”
Riley’s is a staple in the Carnegie community, Fickley said. It’s often packed in the summers and holidays. It has a group of regulars that love returning.
“This is devastating. It’s not even about the restaurant. Whether you work here, whether you have a friend or family member that works here, whether you come here to drink, it’s devastating to everyone.”
Dozens of fire crews responded to the blaze. Firefighters were still extinguishing hot spots after 4 p.m.
“Thank you all for reaching out,” staff wrote on the Riley’s Facebook page. “We want to assure everyone that all of our staff and guests are safe. We will share a full statement soon. Thank you for your patience and support during this time.”
At least two neighboring buildings sustained fire damage and smoke and water damaged other buildings
Riley’s Pour House in Carnegie destroyed by fire; crews still on scene; East Main and Broadway streets and Mansfield Blvd closed to traffic @TribLIVEpic.twitter.com/WTUL0kjHI9
— Kellen Stepler (@KellenStepler) November 14, 2024