Fire rips through storage warehouse
BULLSKIN TWP. – A fire destroyed a storage warehouse at B&R Recycling, located on Bellview Road, Bullskin Township, early Tuesday morning, according to Bullskin Township fire Chief Joe Liska. One firefighter sustained an eye injury while fighting the fire, Liska said.
“The building was fully engulfed in flames when we got there,” said Liska. “All we did was contain it.”
Liska said firefighters contained the fire on the outside of the building first and then began knocking down the flames on the inside.
“The building was completely destroyed,” said Liska. “I don’t think we left the scene until after 9 a.m. on Tuesday. Luckily, only one firefighter was hurt when he got a piece of metal from the tin building in his eye.”
Liska said the Connellsville Township firefighter was treated at Highlands Hospital in Connellsville and released.
Liska also said that the state police fire marshal is investigating the blaze.
“The fire was a hot one because the building contained bales of paper,” he said. “The fire was a pretty bad one.”
Liska said there was another fire at B&R Recycling a couple of years ago that was ruled an accident.
“That fire was caused when a skid loader dragged a bail of paper along the ground and made a wire hot and the paper caught fire,” said Liska.
B&R Recycling owner Linda Allen of Connellsville said Tuesday afternoon that she couldn’t assess the fire damage yet because she hadn’t gotten into the building to take inventory.
“The firefighters and fire marshal really didn’t want us to disturb anything yet, so they wouldn’t let us into the building,” said Allen. “All I know is that I got paged by Fayette County 911 shortly after the fire began at 3:48 a.m.”
Allen said her husband also got a telephone call from people who live across Bellview Road. Allen said she has owned B&R Recycling for 28 years.
She also said that business resumed at the recycling area Tuesday.
“We’re back up and running the same as ever,” concluded Allen.