Milwaukee arson investigators and state and federal fire officials have been called to the scene of a blaze that destroyed the building that houses the well-known Pizza Man restaurant Tuesday morning on the city's east side.

The four-alarm fire started at 3:33 a.m. in the 2300 block of N. Oakland Ave., and was declared to be under control just before 9 a.m.

Crews were able to get gas shut off to the building just before 7:30 a.m. Firefighters have been dealing with low water pressure and needed help from We Energies to remove nearby power lines that blocked their ladder trucks.

About 150 firefighters are on the scene of the blaze, and officials have not declared that the fire is under control, a fire department spokeswoman said at 7 a.m. All of the occupants of the building have been evacuated, and no firefighters have been injured, Milwaukee Fire Department Acting Chief Michael Jones said.

Two parts of the building collapsed as firefighters fought the blaze, Jones said. He said the building was a total loss.



A few fire crews were at the fire within a few minutes of the initial call, but the fire quickly escalated to a four-alarm blaze, Jones said. Firefighters from other agencies are helping to cover other areas of Milwaukee.

The night club CUSH lounge, the Greek restaurant Grecian Delight and the Black and White Cafe are in the same building as Pizza Man.

A spokeswoman for the American Red Cross said there are 10 apartment units above the businesses and that at least two apartment occupants have asked the organization for assistance.