» Video: Brady Fire Co. blaze
RANSHAW -- A four alarm fire destroyed the Brady Fire Company's building Wednesday morning.
The blaze started around 9:15 a.m. at 410-412 Main Street in Ranshaw, quickly sending a column of thick black smoke, visible several miles away, into the sky. Approximately 100 firefighters from more than 12 fire companies in Northumberland, Montour and Schuylkill counties responded to the blaze which threatened houses on both sides of the building.
The building, which housed the company's truck and rescue vehicle and served as a social hall and meeting room, was empty when the fire broke out. Both vehicles were saved, with firefighters from the Brady Company pulling the truck in front of the building to battle the blaze.
"We still have some concerns; there are still some hot spots," said Brady Fire Company Chief Russell Feese at about 4 p.m., after more than seven hours on the scene.
He'd had a long day.
"This is my company," he said earlier in the day, shaking his head as he watched his crew pour water on the flames.
Efforts to save the structure were futile. The building collapsed around 1 p.m. Aerial trucks pumped water onto houses at 408 and 414 Main St., both of which suffered smoke and water damage. Neighbors said both houses were unoccupied.
Mr. Feese said the fire appeared to have started at the back of the building, but by 8 Wednesday night, crews were still on the scene dousing hot spots, and no cause had been determined.
"We're calling in the state police fire marshal to help continue the investigation," Mr. Feese said.
Some remodeling had been going on the building.
Neighbor Jerome Seroskie sat on his front porch watching the melee on Main Street.
He spotted the fire early on from his front window.
"I seen smoke from the back," he said. "I thought it was a house burning behind there. Then I seen it coming through the roof."
He’d been for a walk earlier in the alley behind the fire company and hadn’t noticed anything out of the ordinary.
Fire company treasurer Ron York was equally surprised.
"I saw the smoke," said Mr. York. "But I didn't realize it was on fire 'til I got here. I was more surprised than anything. The furtherest thing from my mind was the fire company."
Fire company president Tom Sayles was equally baffled. He had no idea how the fire started.
"I don't know anything," he said as he stood and watched the building go up in smoke. "They have no clue what happened, where it started. Anything."
Republished with permission of the Daily Item
