Pocono News Section

6-Alarm Blaze at Central PA Business

6-Alarm Blaze at Central PA Business - Monday, March 23, 2009 at 5:25PM EST

Reported by: Jeremy Deebel
Monday, Mar 23, 2009 @ 05:25pm EST
Point Township, Northumberland County-

A raging fire forced a business to evacuate and shut down a major highway in central Pennsylvania.

Witnesses say the smoke could be seen for miles at Strong Industries, a local hot tub and pool manufacturer.

Maintenance Manager Rob Bates was out front just after 9:00 Monday morning, when an employee yelled fire.

Bates noted, “I immediately went to the back of the building, grabbed a couple fire extinguishers to try to put the fire out, but it was too far out of control by then.”

Firefighters rushed to the rescue, even using water from some of the display pools on the property.

Point Township Deputy Fire Chief Ross Blain explained, “Basically we were able to keep it pinned down to the corner of the unloading dock area, so that helped us in the long term immensely.”

Over 100 firefighters from four different counties battled the blaze. About 90 employees were scheduled for work at Strong Industries. All of them were evacuated safely.

Officials worried about the potentially explosive chemicals stored here. They closed down Route 11 from Danville to Northumberland.

We’re told the building received significant structural damage, but many items can be salvaged.

Blain said, “Things were really starting to pick up- spring time coming, pool season. It’s unfortunate it had to happen any time of year, but especially now, when he was really starting to get busy.”

Bates added, “I really don’t know until we get together and have a meeting to find out what we’re going to do. I know the owner wants to rebuild and get back in business, so…”

Employees tell us the owner has insurance on both the building and its contents.

A state police fire marshal is expected to be on scene Tuesday to determine the cause of the fire.

PennDOT officials tell us Route 11 was reopened to traffic just before 2pm.