Arson suspected in 2 blazes at historic Beltzhoover school building, Pittsburgh councilman says

Two recent fires that damaged the former Beltzhoover Elementary School were likely arson, according to Pittsburgh City Councilman Bob Charland.

Fires broke out Tuesday night and Saturday morning at the historic school on Cedarhurst Street in Pittsburgh’s Beltzhoover neighborhood.

The building is currently vacant, but a project is underway to convert the structure into affordable senior housing. No one was injured in the fires.

“We’re almost certain it was arson,” Charland, D-South Side, said Wednesday.

He said he was basing on information he received from city arson investigators.

The most recent fire started around 8 p.m. Tuesday, and Charland said he was on scene until about midnight.

Officials heard reports that some teenagers were seen running from the building before the blaze began, he said, and investigators will look for footage that may have been captured on doorbell cameras or other devices nearby.

Investigators are still probing the fire, Charland said.

There are no mechanical or electrical components in the building that could have ignited a blaze, according to the councilman.

“There’s no other thing that could’ve caused the fire,” he said.

Public safety officials said Wednesday that the fires were “suspicious.”

Saturday’s fire, which started around 6:20 a.m., was on the first floor, public safety officials said. The more recent blaze damaged a rear room facing Sylvania Street.

The Fire Investigation Unit is asking anyone with information or home security video contact them at 412-782-7646.

Security guards will monitor the site until a new surveillance system with cameras can be installed, Charland said.

The building is more than 100 years old and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Beltzhoover Elementary School closed in 2004, and the city school district sold the building in 2017.

The city and Pittsburgh’s Urban Redevelopment Authority have been working with the Beltzhoover Consensus Group for years to redevelop the building into affordable housing for seniors.

The community group did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the fire.

Charland said that project will still move ahead, but it’s too soon to say how much of an impact the recent fires could have on the timeline or project costs.

“This is a setback, but it isn’t going to end the project,” Charland said. “This is too important.”