A fire brought down the structure of a business Thursday evening in the city of Pottsville and damaged homes nearby.
Around 6:50pm, Thursday, emergency personnel were dispatched to a reported structure fire with explosion in the 600 Block of East Market Street in Pottsville. The fire was originally dispatched to the 400 Block but was updated as fire personnel arrived.
Firefighters arrived to find flames and heavy smoke coming from Wire Tele-View located at 605 East Market.
Fire personnel were advised to fight the fire defensively early on and began an attack from the exterior.
Just after 7:00pm, conditions worsened and firefighter narrowly escaped disaster as the front of the building collapsed into the street and onto vehicles parked in front. None of the firefighters were injured.
Adding to the problem, the fire busted a UGI Natural Gas line forcing fire personnel and onlookers back 300 feet. This also forced an evacuation of residents who lived nearby.
The fire damaged nearby structures displacing 3 families that included 7 adults total. The American Red Cross was called to assist those displaced.
Firefighters remained on scene into the late evening with UGI and PPL crews. As 10:15pm, UGI had the gas line shut off allowing firefighters closer to began massive overhaul and to put out hotspots.
Units began to be release after 11:30pm units began to clear the scene with city units and personnel remaining on scene overnight.
A State Police Fire Marshal was on scene Thursday evening to begin investigating a cause.
