Fire Damages Two Austin Live Music Venues
February 7, 2009 by Paris and John
Filed under News and Festivals
Although the sun would not rise over the city of Austin for several hours, the sky over Sixth Street was streaked with red at 5 a.m. on the morning of February 6, 2009 as nearly 100 firefighters battled a blaze which jeopardized two of the Live Music Capital of the World’s landmark watering holes.
Ignited by a cigarette which had been tossed into a back stairway of The Blind Pig Pub, the three alarm fire– which has since been determined to have been accidental– caused over $1 million in damage, mainly to the second floor of the 19th century building. The flames also threatened neighboring 6th Street staple Maggie Mae’s, which– although sustaining both water damage and fire damage to its rooftop– opened its doors to the public later that same evening.
The owners of The Blind Pig hope to welcome patrons once again by the time SXSW begins on March 13th.
The following report from Austin channel KVUE gives insight into the fire:
