Claire Bendiner has had little to no sleep since someone set their Bushwick bar Rash ablaze Sunday night.

“Saw people coming out and screaming so I looked at the side door which is see-through and saw huge enormous flames going to the ceiling,” said Bendiner, the co-owner of Rash.

They said someone walked inside the LGTBQ bar with a gas canister and then poured a liquid onto the floor before setting it on fire.

What You Need To Know

  • A newly opened Bushwick bar, Rash, was set ablaze in a possible arson attack Sunday night

  • Two people were injured and taken to local hospitals, FDNY said

  • Witnesses inside said someone walked inside the LGBTQ bar with a gas canister and then proceeded to pour a liquid onto the floor before setting it on fire

  • If anyone has information on the suspect involved in the fire, investigators say you should call crime stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.

“I called 911. I called the people that live upstairs told them to get out,” Bendinger said.

Pictures posted to the bar’s Instagram showed the charred remains inside. According to authorities, firefighters responded to the fire around 9:25PM Sunday night. There were two people — a bartender and a musician set to play that night — injured and taken to local hospitals.

“We really need to catch this person because I don’t want them to do this to another place,” said Bendinger.

The NYPD has not classified this fire as a hate crime.

“Something like that act of violence seems scary and I question why someone would do that,” said Andrew Porteus, a Bushwick resident.

The bar’s owner have started a GoFundMe page to help with paying staff, medical expenses, and with the restoration. So far, they’ve raised over $40,000 and counting.

“Initially, just taking care of employees and then in the coming months we’re going to try to rebuild it,” Bendinger said.