The Associated Press
PHILIPSBURG, Pa.— A massive fire that swept through several buildings in downtown Philipsburg Saturday night left about half a dozen people injured and as many as a hundred residents homeless.
Among the injured were two firefighters and a badly burned resident.
Wes Cartwright, chief of Hope Fire Company, said the fire probably started on the second floor of a Front Street building that houses Carolle’s Kitchen and then spread.
The Dollar General, Rachel’s Bakery and state Sen. John Wozniak’s office on Front Street and Outdoorsmen’s Corner on Presqueisle Street also went up in flames.
At least one person was burned, another battled asthma and two firefighters from Reliance Fire Company were treated for heat exhaustion, said Sandra Foster of Moshannon Valley EMS.
In the Moshannon Heights area, 16 to 20 residents were evacuated due to smoke, Foster said.
The fire started between 8:30 p.m. and 8:45 p.m., and burned for several more hours.
A Pittsburgh firefighter said the fire began behind Carolle’s Kitchen in an attic space fire crews couldn’t reach.
Patrick Mowery saw the fire start from a corner of the building. He and four other people ran inside to warn the occupants.
“It shot up all at once,” said the 27-year-old Woodland resident. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a fire this bad. It didn’t take long for the whole block to catch.”