On August 26, 2008, a four-alarm blaze gutted the buildings at 940 and 942 Brookline Boulevard. The buildings housed the businesses Wanna Be Tan Too and Wanna Tee. Wanna Be Tan had been in business for 18 years, and Wanna Tee had operated for about eight years.

The buildings also housed seven apartments, with ten tenants. The disaster began around 11:00pm in the basement apartment of 940 Brookline Boulevard. A grease fire apparently ignited the inferno.

Pittsburgh firefighters were soon on the scene. Their efforts protected the adjacent buildings, which housed the businesses A-Boss Opticians and Payless Food Mart. Despite water pressure problems the fire was extinguished by 5:00 the following morning.

There were no injuries to the occupants of the apartments. One firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion. The business occupants lost all stock and the buildings themselves were gutted from top to bottom.

A week later, a wind storm ripped through the Pittsburgh area. The wind was fierce, and one gust was strong enough to topple the upper structure (above photo).

The links below show a media clip and article from the Post-Gazette.

<Video - Fire On Brookline Boulevard - August 26, 2008>

<Article - Blaze Wipes Out 2 Brookline Shops>