Fire destroys
Arkansas gay bar; investigation continuing

Studio 716, a gay bar in Fayetteville, Ark., that had once before been the target of an attempted arson, was destroyed by flames early Saturday. "There was substantial damage to the building itself and a total loss of the contents," Fayetteville Fire Department battalion chief Terry Lawson said. "There was substantial damage, and the entire back wall is completely gone." The nightclub's east wall was gone, though the roof, interior walls, and a fire wall between the bar and the adjoining Tramps Salon and Spa still stood. The salon sustained smoke damage. Lawson would not comment on how the fire may have started. But the club, in a message on its Web site, called the blaze "an unprovoked attack." "We will not let this destroy the NWA community," the message on the Web site went on to say. "This is a time for the gay & lesbian community to stand together." Lawson said a fire on June 26 behind the nightclub had been intentionally set. No one has been arrested in the first blaze, officials said. Fayetteville police said the nightclub had been broken into recently and vandalized. As investigators worked on Saturday, fire department personnel went through the burned remains of the club and marked potential evidence with yellow placards. Fayetteville police and fire officials are continuing to investigate. Fayetteville police didn't return a call for comment on Sunday. Lawson said firefighters were called to the nightclub at 7:12 a.m. Saturday and that the fire was under control less than an hour later. The club was unoccupied at the time the fire broke out, Lawson said. (AP)