Support for LAist comes from
Become a sponsor
We Explain L.A.
Donate
Stay Connected

LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio (SCPR), a member-supported public media network. Hear our news on-air at our partner site:

KPCC Logo

Live Stream Schedule In Person

Keep up with LAist

Our top stories delivered weeknights
Donate

Share This

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

News

Small Electrical Fire at Whisky A Go-Go Prompts Evac During Show

By  Lindsay William-Ross
Published Sep 1, 2009 11:00 PM
Before you read more...
Dear reader, we're asking you to help us keep local news available for all. Your tax-deductible financial support keeps our stories free to read, instead of hidden behind paywalls. We believe when reliable local reporting is widely available, the entire community benefits. Thank you for investing in your neighborhood.

WhiskyFire.jpg
TwitPic of scene outside the Whisky last night by Liz Ohanesian


TwitPic of scene outside the Whisky last night by Liz Ohanesian
Twitter user Liz Ohanesian was one of the first people to get the word of a fire coming from the long-standing Whisky A-Go-Go rock club last night. She Tweeted: "Roof caught fire at the whisky. Fire dept. has already put it out but westbound sunset strip is closed." But Ohanesian had been next door when she saw the fire department pull up to tend to the flames. Inside, the band Eminent was celebrating their record release and kicking off their US Tour with a gig.La Crescenta resident Tallin Aghourian, who along with many of her neighbors there had been delighted to have not been under mandatory evacuations due to the Station Fire, was inside enjoying the show. She explains in an email what happened:

About midway through the last song of their set, the power to the stage was cut off, and the house lights came on. No one in the audience knew what was going on and the band kept playing "acoustic" as it were, with slightly puzzled expressions. About 30 seconds later, the band’s promoter bounded up on stage and started motioning for the mic. He yelled out, "THERE'S A FIRE ON THE ROOF! GET THE FUCK OUT!" There was no fire alarm, no flashing strobe, nothing. Evacuation was quick and orderly, and everyone seemed really calm. Fire crews arrived pretty much as we stepped foot outside.

From across the street just a small billow of smoke was visible as the fire crews, reportedly from LA County Fire and Beverly Hills Fire, worked to handled the blaze. The lights of the building seemed to be entirely out, and a Southern California Edison truck was spotted in the club's lot. For most everyone, their night at the Whisky was definitely over. Notes Aghourian: "After about an hour of waiting, one of the Whisky personnel came out and told us it was all over and to go home. Only people who had left their credit cards at the bar were allowed inside to close their tabs and get their cards. We got no explanation on the cause of the fire." So what happened?Well, nothing...? No explanation seems to be the Whisky's continued stance--actually, no fire is their word: "DESPITE ALL THE RUMORS, WHISKY A GO-GO DID NOT CATCH ON FIRE, AND IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS AS USUSAL," is the sentence added to their website today. However
Support for LAist comes from
Become a sponsor
scanner enthusiast Joe Ortiz relayed: "UPDATE: 8901 sunset blvd sunset ic small electrical fire on roof release beverly hill's [sic] and la city fire la county fire can handle."

This morning the metal band jokingly posted a note on their Facebook page for their fans: "THANKS TO EVERYONE THAT CAME TO THE WHISKY!! YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME oh and um...sorry about the whole burning down the whisky thing...yea."