Knoxville fire investigators determined Tuesday that the fire at Club XYZ, a gay bar, was intentionally set.
An arson dog named Bailey sniffed out an accelerant, which authorities say was likely used to start the fire.
But the
Knoxville News Sentinel reportsofficials have not found evidence to indicate the act was an antigay hate crime.
"I don't think it's random violence," Travis Kincaid, an investigator from Knoxville Fire and Explosives Unit, told the News Sentinel. "It looks to be targeted at a person or at the business. But I've found absolutely nothing to indicate it's a hate crime. ... I don't want that perception out there."
A passing motorist notified Knoxville firefighters at the Baxter Avenue station Sunday morning that there were flames coming from the back of Club XYZ. The fire started on the wood deck in the back of the club and continued to burn the overhead awning, melting ceiling fans on the deck, officials said.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation laboratory is analyzing samples from the burned area to determine what kind of accelerant was used to start the fire.
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