An 81-year-old building on Uniontown’s Main Street is likely a total loss after a fire early Saturday, the city fire chief said.
About 50 firefighters from seven companies responded to the blaze at 143 E. Main St., home to the Liberty Bell Antiques business, after the call came in at 4:30 a.m., Chief Dane Griffith said. They brought the fire under control about an hour later, he said.
One firefighter was treated for a minor injury and released from an emergency department, the chief said.
The building “had burned for a long time before anybody got the call on it,” Chief Griffith said, describing flames in the second-floor and roof areas. “It was deep-seated.”
The fire also caused structural damage to the building, a former tire-recapping plant of just more than 13,000 square feet, he said. The property owner started tearing down the front of the building later Saturday, he added.
No other buildings were damaged, and the fire did not appear to be suspicious, the chief said. A state police fire marshal and Uniontown city police were investigating.
Liberty Bell Antiques did not immediately respond to a message Saturday afternoon. In a post on its Facebook page, owners Bill and Angie Morris said they opened the downtown store in December 2013.
“Liberty Bell Antiques was more than just a store, Bill and I made a lot of friends along the way from going on pickin’ trips, building friendships with our dedicated dealers and vendors that turned into not just friendships but more like family to us and our customers who were very faithful to us,” the post reads. “We appreciated each and every one of you. Please keep us in your prayers.”
First Published: February 6, 2021, 10:48 p.m.