Firefighters continue to battle blaze at Butler building
Smoke continues to billow from a structure fire in a vacant building at the corner of South Cliff Street and Center Avenue on Friday morning, Sept. 15.
Firefighters report the building was a former furniture store.
Crews were called a little after 3 a.m. and are still on scene.
According to Christopher Switala, chief of Butler City Bureau of Fire, crews were able to do an initial interior search of the building when they arrived. Once it was determined that no occupants were inside, Switala said crews moved to fighting the fire from the exterior only.
“The building is too dangerous to fight inside,” he said. “The color and density of the smoke is showing us where the fire is progressing more … there is a lot of smoke and not much fire that tells you it’s in the walls.”
Switala said the roof has collapsed on the building, as well as part of the third floor. The collapse has allowed the fire to be fought easier, he said.
Ladder trucks from Chicora Volunteer Fire Department and Slippery Rock Volunteer Fire Company and Rescue Team are parked on the viaduct spraying water into the flames from above.
When fighting a fire of this size, Switala said the strategy is to continually hit the fire with thousands of gallons of water at a time. Between the ladder trucks, and hydrant connections, Switala said the fire is being doused with 4,000 to 5,000 gallons of water a minute.
“It’s just a matter of having enough fire trucks,” he said.
The building’s right side, which bears a sign saying “Elliot Furniture Auction,” started to bow early on in the blaze. That wall faces South Cliff Street, which has been designated a “collapse zone.” Fire personnel moved to the other side of the street for safety.
“Collapse is the main thing we’re worried about,” he said.
“This is an extended operation. We’ll probably be here the majority of the day chasing hot spots,” he added.
The cause of the fire is still unknown, but an investigation is underway. Switala said he plans to contact Butler City in hopes to reach the building’s owner.
“The building has been used for storage, there was at least one car in there,” he said. “But there have been no occupants in it for more than a year.”
The front end of a vintage Volkswagen Bug rolled out of the building’s right side near South Cliff Street early on in the fire. Switala said he believes whatever was securing the car burned up, causing it to roll.
There are two apartments in the building next door, according to Switala. Those residents were displaced due to the smoke and water damage, but the fire did not extend to the building. Switala said the Red Cross has been contacted to find them temporary housing.
The residents and two Guinea pigs made it out of the building safely, he added.
City police have blocked off Route 356 at Main Street. Railroad tracks running along South Cliff Street were also closed due to fire hoses being stretched across them. Around 8:30 a.m., Switala said the tracks should be open shortly.
According to PennDot, West Wayne Street is closed and there is no estimated time to reopen it. The recommended route for commercial traffic is to take Route 228 to Route 8 North to avoid the area.
And while schools in the Butler Area District are operating normally, due to the heavy smoke from the fire, some schools will not be having outdoor activities Friday, according to superintendent Brian White.
