Post by radicalron on Mar 1, 2010 22:15:46 GMT -5
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Firefighters quickly put out blaze at Smokin' Joe's
BY JOHN E. USALIS (STAFF WRITERjusalis@republicanherald.com)
Published: February 28, 2010
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Lightbox link ASHLAND - Borough firefighters responded quickly to a fire around noon Saturday that limited damage to a downtown Ashland business.
The first firefighter to respond to Smokin' Joe's Tobacco Shop Inc., 706 Centre St., was Ashland Fire Chief Philip Groody, who threw out merchandise displays that were on fire and prevented fire from spreading.
The fire alarm sounded about 11:30 a.m., with firefighters responding from American Hose Company and Washington Fire Company. The American Hose firehouse is located two blocks away from the business, which is owned by Richard Prezelski.
Groody and Ashland Police Officer Mark O'Hearn said the store was filled with smoke when they arrived before the fire apparatus.
"When I got here, you could hardly see inside, even with the lights on because the smoke was so heavy," said Groody.
Groody was in his pick-up truck near Third Street when he heard the alarm. When he parked across the street, he put his fire gear on and went into the building.
"There were two employees inside when the fire started," said O'Hearn. "From what I was told, a customer was in the store and used a butane lighter from a barrel and put it back."
O'Hearn said the lighter may not have extinguished itself and started a fire in the barrel.
"When they saw the fire, the employees called 911 and then tried to put the fire out with a fire extinguisher, but were unsuccessful," said O'Hearn.
One employee, Christine Snyder, Locust Gap, received minor burns and were taken to Saint Catherine Medical Center Fountain Springs for treatment by the Washington Fire Company ambulance. The other employee, Karen Buranich, Shamokin, was unharmed.
The fire spread to a cardboard merchandise display, which was also thrown out into the street. The display was on fire in one corner, but was entirely ablaze within a minute of being placed outside.
"When Groody arrived, he hit the fire with his own fire extinguisher and then dragged the barrel outside," said O'Hearn. "He did a good job and prevented a lot of damage."
"The amount of fire damage was minimal," said Groody. "There is some damage from smoke and the powder from the extinguishers."
Firefighters quickly put out blaze at Smokin' Joe's
BY JOHN E. USALIS (STAFF WRITERjusalis@republicanherald.com)
Published: February 28, 2010
Font size:
e-mail this share this
Image Gallery for
Lightbox link ASHLAND - Borough firefighters responded quickly to a fire around noon Saturday that limited damage to a downtown Ashland business.
The first firefighter to respond to Smokin' Joe's Tobacco Shop Inc., 706 Centre St., was Ashland Fire Chief Philip Groody, who threw out merchandise displays that were on fire and prevented fire from spreading.
The fire alarm sounded about 11:30 a.m., with firefighters responding from American Hose Company and Washington Fire Company. The American Hose firehouse is located two blocks away from the business, which is owned by Richard Prezelski.
Groody and Ashland Police Officer Mark O'Hearn said the store was filled with smoke when they arrived before the fire apparatus.
"When I got here, you could hardly see inside, even with the lights on because the smoke was so heavy," said Groody.
Groody was in his pick-up truck near Third Street when he heard the alarm. When he parked across the street, he put his fire gear on and went into the building.
"There were two employees inside when the fire started," said O'Hearn. "From what I was told, a customer was in the store and used a butane lighter from a barrel and put it back."
O'Hearn said the lighter may not have extinguished itself and started a fire in the barrel.
"When they saw the fire, the employees called 911 and then tried to put the fire out with a fire extinguisher, but were unsuccessful," said O'Hearn.
One employee, Christine Snyder, Locust Gap, received minor burns and were taken to Saint Catherine Medical Center Fountain Springs for treatment by the Washington Fire Company ambulance. The other employee, Karen Buranich, Shamokin, was unharmed.
The fire spread to a cardboard merchandise display, which was also thrown out into the street. The display was on fire in one corner, but was entirely ablaze within a minute of being placed outside.
"When Groody arrived, he hit the fire with his own fire extinguisher and then dragged the barrel outside," said O'Hearn. "He did a good job and prevented a lot of damage."
"The amount of fire damage was minimal," said Groody. "There is some damage from smoke and the powder from the extinguishers."