Structure Fire in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania

At 8:28 pm, August 13th, the Philipsburg Fire Department was dispatched to the 100 block of North Front Street for a reported structure fire.

Assistant Department Chief Tim Townsend arrived on scene within 2 minutes, reporting a heavy fire and immediately requested a second alarm.

Fire was already vented from a second floor apartment in the rear of the Carole's Kitchen structure and was spreading into the "L shaped" D exposure which housed Senator Wozniak's office and Rachel's Bakery on the Front Street and a barber shop and offices on the Presqueisle Street.

The second and third floors were a mix of occupied apartments, offices and storage areas. Initial reports of possible entrapment proved negative.

Twenty-Four fire companies from Centre and Clearfield counties responded to the 6 alarm blaze. With 7 aerial master streams and several deck guns in operation water supply became a concern.

By 12:30 am, PA American Water notified command that they had pumped over 8 million gallons and their storage reserve was being depleted.

A tanker task force was dispatched and shuttles were set up from local streams.

The blaze damaged 7 businesses and left 12 families homeless.