Jan. 22--YOUNGSTOWN -- Four fire departments beat back a stubborn blaze this afternoon that damaged the recreation building serving the Villa, a condominium development overlooking the Lower Niagara River.
The fire damaged roughly half of the recreation building, the side housing the pool and hot tub, fire personnel said. The recreation building is a free-standing structure, and all of the nearby condominiums were spared.
No one was inside the recreation building when the fire broke out, about noon, and there were no injuries. A cause had not yet been determined this evening.
Youngstown Fire Chief Eric Wieland said the flames became difficult to douse when they crept into layers of ceiling materials. He said the fire was fully under control by about 1:30 p.m. He believed the damage could be repaired and did not consider the structure totally lost.
The condominium development is at 1 Main St., near the Main Street entrance to Fort Niagara State Park.
Aside from Youngstown, three other fire departments responded: Ransomville, Lewiston and Upper Mountain.
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