Weekend blaze scorches Renovo structure
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A building once home to the Renovo Daily Record and more recently apartment buildings experienced a two alarm fire that left the red brick building that was built in 1869 in ruins.
A passerby noticed heavy smoke fuming from the unoccupied building at 5:35 p.m. and made a call to 911. As area crews responded, even in the dark of night large black smoke and flames were visible at all three entrances into Renovo.
Within minutes flames were fuming on all areas of the structure, except for the southern side which was adjoined to the neighboring property, The Security Building, a business owned by Steve Murgas.
Even as the first streams of water began dousing the blaze at 129 5th Street, at 6:04 p.m., Renovo Fire Department Chief Ted Hill ordered that all interior firefighters retreat from inside as he would later explain that the structure was compromised and a roof collapse seemed imminent. In fact, about an hour into the event, chunks of bricks could be heard and often seen collapsing around the building.
The fire marshall was on scene Saturday evening and an investigation is underway. No injuries occurred on the scene.
On July 4th of this year, a fire also leveled several business properties as well as the Renovo Borough garage, just several yards away from where Saturday’s evenings blaze occurred. That fire also drew an investigation.
The fire call concluded at 11:41 p.m. As sections of the roof collapsed, it created a pancake type rubble where hot spots become a painstaking issue for the fire fighters. Ten gallons of foam were eventually used to smother the final burning section.
As of Sunday morning, Hill said that he believes fire only broke through The Security Building in one area with minimal damage, although the smoke and water damage will continue to be assessed.
The Security Building is adjoined on the opposite side by several connected apartment buildings, as the row of properties all being adjoined were a major concern as rescue personnel began arriving on scene, but the actions of first responders to contain the blaze to the main building should not go unnoticed by all of those that responded.
The two alarm fire included responses from Clinton County units from Stations #27, #28 and #29 in the Renovo area as well as Station #23. Additional Clinton County Stations #5, #6, #8, #9, #11, #12 and #17 also responded. Potter County Station #26, Lycoming County Stations #2, #31 and #45, and Centre County Stations #6, #14 and #17 also responded.