By Lorri Drumm
The Meadville Tribune
UNION TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A structure that included two apartments and an office space was destroyed and one firefighter was injured in an early-morning fire Tuesday.
Firemen at Vernon Central Hose Co. got a call at 5:02 a.m. for a report of a fire at 8912 Perry Highway, Vernon Central Fire Chief Donie Grinnell said.
When crews arrived fire was coming out the windows of the structure, Grinnell said.
The building contained two apartments, each with a female occupant, and an office space reportedly used for massage therapy, according to Grinnell. The two females were outside the building when firemen arrived, Grinnell said.
A firefighter from Greenwood Township Volunteer Fire Department was injured when he fell from the roof of the structure. He was transported to Meadville Medical Center for treatment, Grinnell said. Grinnell identified the fireman as Rob Wimer. A call to the hospital for information on Wimer’s condition was not returned.
A state police fire marshal was at the scene investigating the cause of the fire on Tuesday afternoon, according to Grinnell. Grinnell described the damage from the fire as extensive, stating the structure was “gutted.”
Vernon Central was assisted at the scene by Vernon Township, Greenwood, West Mead 1, West Mead 2, Hayfield, Conneaut Lake 7 and Sheakleyville (Mercer County) volunteer fire departments. Meadville Area Ambulance Service also assisted at the scene. Fallowfield and Hempfield volunteer fire departments were on stand-by.
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