Christmas morning fire destroys Thompson’s Country Market
Emergency responders from 33 fire departments spent more than six hours fighting a fire at Thompson’s Country Market in West Sunbury on Christmas morning.
The market burned to the ground after the fire was deemed too dangerous and destructive to combat effectively, said Reid Campbell, chief of West Sunbury Volunteer Fire Department.
Campbell called efforts by area firefighters a “successful operation,” explaining that the only structure severely damaged by the fire was the one where it started — the market at 136 Main St.
“We had the potential of losing four other structures and didn't,” he said. “We've always said if that building ever caught fire, we would be successful to keep it to that building.
“This was a valiant effort by the departments.”
Campbell said one man was injured in the fire: the tenant of an apartment in the same building as the market. Campbell said the operator of the market helped evacuate the man from the unit as well as other families in the vicinity of the building.
The tenant was transported to Butler Memorial Hospital for smoke inhalation and facial burns, Campbell said.
The call about the fire came in around 10:30 a.m.
On Facebook, a page for Thompson’s Country Market posted a thank you to the firefighters.
“I want to thank all of the amazing hardworking firefighters who came out today. I also want to thank all of the great people who reached out to me today. I am at a loss for words right now I am just thankful nobody was seriously injured in this horrible fire,” the post said.
The owners of Thompson’s Country Market could not be reached for comment Monday.
While the exact cause of the fire has not been determined, Campbell said it may have started in the basement and spread throughout the kitchen and the rest of the building.
This is what made the fire especially challenging for the responders to fight, Campbell said.
“When we arrived on scene, we had smoke coming from the rear portion of the structure. When we made entry, we found a small fire on the ground level of the structure in the kitchen area in the back,” Campbell said. “Our crews extinguished that, but soon determined the fire was below them, in the basement.
“It makes it very difficult and very dangerous.”
Crews were called out from the building once they found fire in the basement. At that point, it was determined the building could not be saved, and firefighters started an exterior push to contain the flames. The departments needed as many firetrucks at the scene as possible, because West Sunbury does not have a municipal water supply.
Cold temperatures also presented a challenge. Fire departments had issues getting water to fight the blaze, Campbell said.
“There always is (an issue) for a fire this size in the county,” Campbell said. “We don’t have hydrants. We haul all of our water by tank trucks, and we have fill sites.
“We have one on this other side, the northern side of town. They have to fill the trucks, they have to haul the water in, and everything takes big time for us.
“Weather was a big, big factor. Trucks started to fail because they were freezing. Valves were freezing ... interrupted the truck's ability to fight,” said Campbell, who had icicles hanging from his mustache Sunday.
Crews left the scene at around 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Campbell and other firefighters returned to the scene Monday for additional evaluation. The only damage to surrounding buildings was some peeled siding and cracked windows, which resulted from the heat from the fire at the market.
3 C’s Pizza, 1252 West Sunbury Road, West Sunbury, is leading an assistance drive for the people affected by the fire.
Crystal Baptiste, owner of 3 C’s, said the loss of Thompson’s Country Market is a hit to the entire community. She said she cried when she received a phone call telling her the market was on fire.
“It’s going to be a loss, because people depended on that place. They could walk to the market,” Baptiste said.
Baptiste said people can drop off donations of money, clothing or food at 3 C’s Pizza. She said people can call the shop for donations, but she prefers people drop them off, so the business’ phone lines are not jammed.
The two-story market was a landmark in the community.
“But we saved all the rest. If this had been a day or two earlier, we would have lost the whole center of town with that wind,” he said.
While the destruction of a community business is disappointing, Campbell said, the community support on display on Christmas Day was an encouraging sight.
“It’s a loss to the town,” Campbell said. “We thank everybody who came.”
Butler Eagle photographer Cary Shaffer contributed to this article.
