UPDATE: Blue Dog Pub Fire Deemed 'Suspicious'

Towamencin Fire Marshal Kevin Pezzano and Towamencin Police are still investigating a fire that broke out in the rear of Blue Dog Pub Friday night around 10:15.

At this time, the fire is deemed as "suspicious," according to Towamencin Vol. Fire Co. Chief Dean Miller.

"It's suspicious at this point. We're not sure if it was mechanical or otherwise," said Miller. "The process is to eliminate all possibilities and see what we have left."

Pezzano said police are working to see if any closed-circuit cameras may have captured someone behind the building in the Allen Forge Shopping Center.

"We are working to see if something captured what was going on back there. We interviewed employees and now we have to sort through all the information they gave us," he said.

Miller said there has been concerns about vandalism around the center recently.

"We'll see if it's all connected or not," Miller said.

The fire started on the outside of the building by the rear exit to Blue Dog Pub.

"It started in between the CO2 cylinder and the grease trap," Pezzano said. "There was no source of ignition found in the area."

The CO2 cylinder connected to the supply lines for beverage distribution inside the establishment, Miller said.

"The fire damaged the recovery unit placed outside the back door," he said.

Smoke did enter the interior of the Blue Dog, and employees and patrons were evacuated.

"They left the door open and smoke went right through the restaurant," Pezzano said.

Miller said there was no real damage to the inside.

"Smoke went into the building, but we were able to vent it without a problem," he said. "They should be back in service today."

The Montgomery County Health Department responded to the scene last night. Pezzano said they worked with the owner and employees regarding what needed to be thrown away, what they could keep and what needed to be cleaned.

Fire crews remained on the scene for about 90 minutes.

Towamencin Vol. Fire Co., Fairmount Fire Co. and Upper Gwynedd Fire Dept. responded to the scene.

A ladder truck from Upper Gwynedd checked a refrigeration unit on the roof to make sure there was no extension of the fire, Miller said.

"The initial report of a fire in the refrigeration unit was incorrect," he said.