Erie Times-News
BROOKSIDE, Pa. — A firefighter was taken to the hospital Sunday after suffering an electrical shock while battling a blaze on Buffalo Road in Harborcreek Township.
Chief Campy Dahlkemper, of Brookside Volunteer Fire Co., said the firefighter’s injury wasn’t serious but that the unoccupied building was heavily damaged.
“It’s going to be probably a total loss,” Dahlkemper said.
Firefighters were called to the 5000 block of Buffalo Road at 12:44 p.m. and had the fire under control at 1:52 p.m., an East County emergency dispatcher said. He said the injured firefighter was taken to UPMC Hamot.
Besides Brookside, crews responded from Fairfield, Wesleyville, Lawrence Park, Belle Valley and Kuhl Hose.
National Fuel Gas and Penelec crews also were called to the fire scene.
Buffalo Road was closed to traffic between Walbridge and Hannon roads while firefighters battled the smoky blaze in the two-story structure on the south side of the road.
“I believe it is an empty unoccupied structure,” Dahlkemper said.
A sign in front advertised the property as “available” and “zoned business.”
Dahlkemper said the cause and origin of the fire weren’t yet known. He said flames were coming from the rear of the building, which suffered the most damage, when he arrived.
Mike Battko and Jacob Waechter were moving furniture from a residence across the street when they saw smoke. At first they thought someone was burning leaves behind the building but then realized the structure was on fire.
Waechter said he called 911, and Battko said he kicked a door in to make sure no one was inside.
“There was nothing in there,” he said. “It was full of smoke. We yelled, and there was nobody there.”
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