Fire destroys roofing business
A massive fire ripped through a Uniontown business that has been providing roofing for the area for more than 65 years, gutting the large one-story brick building and injuring two firefighters who were among the dozens battling the blaze. Firefighters from seven area departments fought burgeoning flames that broke out just after 2 p.m. at Donald M. Miller Roofing Inc., 3 Wood St.
Uniontown firefighters at the scene worked quickly to break through the rear section of the building using circular saws and chain saws to reach the interior of the warehouse.
Yellow smoke poured from the eaves of the structure, enveloping the west side of the city.
On the east end of the building, the roof collapsed and a fireball about 25-feet high leaped into the air above the building, the smoke turning from yellow to black.
Two ladder trucks fired water cannons into the flames as the roof continued to disintegrate, while firefighters below scattered in search of fresh air tanks for crews coming out of the building.
Crews worked diligently to save the office area of the building, with dozens of firefighters working through the burning interior of the business with smaller hose lines to stop the spreading flames.
Two unidentified firefighters suffered minor injuries while battling the blaze. Their conditions were not known as of press time.
According to Donald Miller III, whose father owns the business, he and other employees were in the office section of the building Wednesday afternoon when they smelled smoke.
He said employees at a neighboring business also ran over and told them smoke was coming from the rear of the building.
“I have no idea how it started,” Miller said, noting that the warehouse section of the building was primarily used for storage.
By 5 p.m., fire crews, under the supervision of Uniontown Fire Chief Myron Nypaver, had doused the flames and a hazy white smoke drifted from the charred remains of the building where firefighters began to scour the rubble for hot spots.
Crews were able to keep the fire from destroying the office section of the structure, but the area did sustain smoke and water damage, officials said.
Emergency crews shut down South Mount Vernon Avenue, Wood Street, Nutt Avenue and Berkley Street as firefighters snaked 4-inch hose lines from all nearby fire hydrants through the streets.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the state police fire marshal.
In addition to city firefighters, volunteer firefighters from North Union Township, South Union Township, Hopwood, Farmington, Connellsville Township and Scottdale battled the blaze.
Emergency crews from the Uniontown Police Department, Uniontown Fireman’s Ambulance, Fayette EMS, Allegheny Power and the Salvation Army Disaster Services also responded to the blaze.