Fire guts strip club, businesses

Firefighters douse a "hot spot" on one of the businesses damaged in Tuesday's fire.

THE BLADE/MIKE SIGOV
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Gary Martin, deputy chief of operations for the Toledo Fire Department, walks past a burned-out Platinum Showgirls on Tuesday morning as Toledo firefighters pour water on smoldering embers at the strip club and surrounding businesses.

Firefighters douse a "hot spot" on one of the businesses damaged in Tuesday's fire.

At least half of the strip mall at Alexis and Telegraph roads in West Toledo was destroyed during an early-morning fire Tuesday.

The blaze at Northridge Plaza Shopping Center started about 4:30 a.m. at Platinum Showgirls and spread to adjacent businesses, said Toledo Fire Battalion Chief Tony Gregory.

"Arson investigators are going through the evidence," Chief Gregory said. "We are just trying to get a handle on how exactly it started."

The cause is under investigation, he said.

There were no reported injuries. The businesses in the area had been closed for the night, the chief said.

Two fire crews remained on scene about 7:45 a.m. to douse hot spots. Most of the north side of the complex was still smoldering, with roofs collapsed and rubble for remains. The destroyed buildings included the Platinum Showgirls strip club, which had its roof collapse.

The Loonar Station, a tobacco accessories and gift shop, sustained partial damage, according to David Hahn, father of shop owner Eric Hahn of Las Vegas.

"We have other locations, we'll carry on," the elder Mr. Hahn said Tuesday morning as he surveyed the damage on scene. "It hurts but the main thing is that no one got injured."

A check-cashing store front also was damaged, and all of the complex north of the tobacco accessories shop was destroyed.

Some businesses on the south side, including a nail salon, a denture shop, and Chinese restaurant, were not affected.

In July of 2008, a two-alarm fire forced the evacuation of more than 60 people from the same shopping center and caused an estimated $298,000 in damage.

This is a developing story. Details will be published as they become available.