The Northside Leadership Conference has created a relief fund to help owners of North Side businesses hit by fire New Year's Day.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, authorities said Friday.
City arson investigator Michael Burns said the fire does not appear suspicious. "The Arson Accelerant Detection Canine from the county Fire Marshal's Office was brought in and did not alert anywhere within the structure," Burns said in an e-mail.
K.S. Kennedy Distinctive Floral, Gift & Gourmet and The Modern Cafe were destroyed Thursday in the early morning fire inside an L-shaped brick building at the corner of Western and Galveston avenues.
A third business, Styles By Thomas & Thomas, was damaged, but the owner expects to be able to reopen eventually. Smoke from the fire damaged a barbershop, beauty shop and deli in the same building.
Donors may specify in the memo line of their checks the name of the business or person they want to help. The conference's development fund has agreed to meet with business owners to offer financing assistance.
Donations to the Western Avenue Fire Relief Fund based at Fifth Third Bank, 517 East Ohio St., can be dropped off at any Fifth Third Bank branch or mailed to the Northside Leadership Conference, 4 Allegheny Center, Suite 601, Pittsburgh PA 15212.
