UNITY TOWNSHIP, Pa. (KDKA) — A massive fire overnight at the Latrobe 30 Shops in Westmoreland County caused major damage to multiple businesses.
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The fire broke out around 3:15 a.m. in a strip mall section that includes a number of stores, including Goodwill, Harbor Freight Tools, Roadman's Country Living Shop, a tanning salon and My Fitness Kitchen. did.
Lloydsville Volunteer Fire Chief Brian Schultheis said the fire appeared to have started outside Roadman's Country Living and spread along the outside of the store and along the roof overhang.
When firefighters arrived on scene, the fire had spread 75 to 100 feet in front of the building, with flames shooting 20 to 30 feet into the air.
Seven fire companies were dispatched from Unity Township to extinguish the fire, and fire teams from outside the town were also dispatched.
Two businesses were heavily damaged by the fire itself, and other businesses in that area of the plaza also sustained water and smoke damage. There were no injuries during the fire.
Property manager Ralph Scalise said the plaza is a community asset and was “devastated” to see the fire and damage.
“Frankly, this is hurtful. This is a community asset, it really is,” said a visibly emotional Scalise. “We pulled over just to see the center core fall off and the canopy and front fall off. I was like, 'Wow, this is really real, it's not good.'
“I thought the end of the world was coming. I heard sirens, but I didn't know what was going on. It was crazy,” resident Brian Bowman said.
“Obviously, we're going to have a plan to clean it up, and the ones that were actually severely damaged. Two of them, we're going to do everything we can to get them back in business as quickly as possible.” We will,” Scalise added.
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“I think this is really devastating to the community,” Scalise said. “Those stores have definitely done their bit for the community. I'm really amazed.”
After the fire was extinguished, workers at the scene moved to clean up, causing a large portion of the store's facade to collapse onto the sidewalk below.
Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshals are investigating the cause of the fire.
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