A fire destroyed Riley’s Pour House in Carnegie on Thursday afternoon.
The popular Irish pub at 215 E. Main St. caught fire at around 1:15 p.m., according to Allegheny County 911.
No injuries were reported, and all employees and restaurant patrons evacuated the restaurant safely.
Abbey Fickley of West Mifflin has worked at the bar since 2020 and fills in seasonally. She said a fryer caught on fire, then the flames 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 was a staple in the Carnegie community. It was often packed in the summers and on holidays. It has always had a group of regulars that loved returning, Fickley said.
“This is devastating. It’s not even about the restaurant.,” she said. “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. An excavator arrived on scene late Thursday.
“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.
Carnegie Mayor Stacy Riley said the town’s sympathies go out to Riley’s owners.
“For so many years, this business has been a cornerstone in our community, bringing warmth, care, and a sense of togetherness that goes beyond the walls of this establishment. This will leave a lasting mark on all of us,” she said in a statement.
“While the flames may have taken away the physical space, they have not touched the spirit and resilience that define Carnegie and the ‘Riley’ family,” Riley said. “This was not just a business, but a legacy of trust, kindness, and service that cannot be erased. The community and borough stands ready to support in whatever ways needed.”
Wally Sisul of Carnegie, who lives near Riley’s, said the fire was devastating.
“Everybody knows Riley’s,” he said. “There’s so much tradition there. Everyone standing around us has been to Riley’s. The fire “just rips your heart out.”
Riley’s was purely and uniquely Irish: from the food, to the music, to the drinks and to the community, he said.
“You can’t replicate it,” he said. “It was such a unique establishment that spewed Irish authenticity. It was unlike anywhere else.”
Many bystanders noted that the lot they were watching the fire from — directly across the street from Riley’s — was the same place of the former well-known PaPa J’s restaurant, which was destroyed by fire in 2018.
Officials from nearby Bobs Diner in Carnegie said in a Facebook post that their “hearts are with our Main St. neighbors.”
Riley’s employees who need a job are welcome to reach out to them for possible employment, the post read.
“I am so saddened over the horrible news of the fire at Riley’s Pour House in Carnegie,” said state Rep. Anita Kulik D-Carnegie. “Such a sad day for my hometown. My prayers go out to all who have been affected.”
The Allegheny County fire marshal is investigating.
Riley’s Pour House in Carnegie destroyed by fire; crews still on scene; East Main and Broadway streets and Mansfield Blvd closed to traffic @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/WTUL0kjHI9
— Kellen Stepler (@KellenStepler) November 14, 2024
