Dec. 31--A fire early Monday that caused $1 million damage to the Grantville Restaurant in East Hanover Township, Dauphin County, is under investigation by county and state police fire marshals.
When firefighters arrived at 12:26 a.m., five minutes after a passer-by reported the blaze, flames were through the roof, said Chief Saul Schmolitz of Grantville Volunteer Fire Company.
The restaurant on Route 22 between Crawford and Sand Beach roads was closed at 9 p.m., Schmolitz said.
He said the cause is not yet known.
The fire went to four alarms due to the need for water, because of the absence of hydrants in this rural area, Schmolitz said. In all, about 22 fire companies responded, he said.
Firefighters tried an interior attack, but had to switch to a defensive mode immediately because the roof started caving in, Schmolitz said. No one was injured battling the blaze.
Firefighters couldn't let the fully involved fire burn out because of the wind and proximity to other structures, Schmolitz said.
Copyright 2013 - The Patriot-News, Harrisburg, Pa.
