BROWN TOWNSHIP, Mifflin County — A fire thought to have started behind a restaurant kitchen caused extensive damage to much of the Dairyland complex in Brown Township, Mifflin County.
The complex, located on state Route 655, just off U.S. Route 322 near Reedsville, is home to a restaurant, an antique mall, a gift shop, a craft shop, a barbershop and the offices of a local newspaper. It had originally been a canning factory.
The fire was reported at about 10:30 a.m. Dan Aumiller, chief of the Reedsville Fire Company, said firefighters entered the building, but were pulled out because of unsafe conditions. By noon, the fire was under control and firefighters continued to hose down the roof of the landmark, known for its large “Dairyland” sign on top and a large figure of a cow next to the building.
“The one end of the building has pretty extensive damage,” Aumiller said.
He said the fire is thought to have started in back of the kitchen of the restaurant, Sal- Lee’s. Aumiller said employees were boiling potatoes in a turkey fryer outside of the restaurant. The fire is thought to have ignited and traveled up the side of the building when the employee went into the kitchen for a moment.
Aumiller said the building is owned as one unit, and each of the business owners has insurance. No one was hurt in the blaze.
Maria Lucci, of Lewistown, was working in the restaurant, which is a family business, when the fire broke out. She said the kitchen staff saw smoke and told everyone to evacuate.
“We’re all all right, so that’s the most important thing,” Lucci said.
Bill Fike, chief of the Highland Park Fire Company, said there was extensive fire damage to the kitchen at the rear of the building, the second floor above that area and into the gift shop. The antique shop and the rest of the restaurant had water and smoke damage, he said.
The fire damage was visible in an area where the second floor had collapsed into the first floor.
Employees and the owners of Dairyland waited as firefighters, including some from Centre, Huntingdon and Juniata counties, put out the fire and checked for hot spots.
“We have to assess the damage first, and then we’ll have a meeting with the family and see what we can do,” said owner Gayle Rodgers.
Cleaning Commercial Kitchen Exhaust Systems Since 1971
5734 Bankfield Avenue
Culver City, California 90230
310-636-8361 x 203
Grant Mogford
The complex, located on state Route 655, just off U.S. Route 322 near Reedsville, is home to a restaurant, an antique mall, a gift shop, a craft shop, a barbershop and the offices of a local newspaper. It had originally been a canning factory.
The fire was reported at about 10:30 a.m. Dan Aumiller, chief of the Reedsville Fire Company, said firefighters entered the building, but were pulled out because of unsafe conditions. By noon, the fire was under control and firefighters continued to hose down the roof of the landmark, known for its large “Dairyland” sign on top and a large figure of a cow next to the building.
“The one end of the building has pretty extensive damage,” Aumiller said.
He said the fire is thought to have started in back of the kitchen of the restaurant, Sal- Lee’s. Aumiller said employees were boiling potatoes in a turkey fryer outside of the restaurant. The fire is thought to have ignited and traveled up the side of the building when the employee went into the kitchen for a moment.
Aumiller said the building is owned as one unit, and each of the business owners has insurance. No one was hurt in the blaze.
Maria Lucci, of Lewistown, was working in the restaurant, which is a family business, when the fire broke out. She said the kitchen staff saw smoke and told everyone to evacuate.
“We’re all all right, so that’s the most important thing,” Lucci said.
Bill Fike, chief of the Highland Park Fire Company, said there was extensive fire damage to the kitchen at the rear of the building, the second floor above that area and into the gift shop. The antique shop and the rest of the restaurant had water and smoke damage, he said.
The fire damage was visible in an area where the second floor had collapsed into the first floor.
Employees and the owners of Dairyland waited as firefighters, including some from Centre, Huntingdon and Juniata counties, put out the fire and checked for hot spots.
“We have to assess the damage first, and then we’ll have a meeting with the family and see what we can do,” said owner Gayle Rodgers.
Cleaning Commercial Kitchen Exhaust Systems Since 1971
5734 Bankfield Avenue
Culver City, California 90230
310-636-8361 x 203
Grant Mogford
