HARRISVILE — Smoke and flames inside a hydraulic hose and fitting business Wednesday night caused up to $200,000 in damage and left one firefighter injured. Fire officials believe the blaze accidentally started just before 8 p.m. in a furnace room at the Ray Lewis & Co. plant on South Main Street, and destroyed stock and damaged machinery and parts. Dozens of firefighters from 10 departments battled the blaze at the facility that sells and repairs high-pressure hydraulic hoses, pumps and fittings used in the mining industry and at light industrial firms. A Harrisville volunteer firefighter needed treatment at the Grove City Medical Center after being overcome by smoke, said Chief Steve Bickel of the Harrisville Volunteer Fire Department. The firefighter, who was not identified, was released and is “doing fine,” Bickel said this morning. The owner of a nearby business spotted the fire at the plant, which is south of the post office and across the street from the First National Bank, and notified authorities. “When we got there,” Bickel said, “there was heavy smoke coming from the eaves the whole way around the building. “There was a fire in the center of the building,” Bickel said. “But the heavy, thick smoke made it difficult to see. You couldn’t see the hand in front of your face.” The fire was contained within 30 minutes. Assisting the Harrisville department were firefighters from Slippery Rock, Marion Township, Eau Claire and West Sunbury in Butler County, Pine Township, Grove City, Mercer East End and Springfield Township in Mercer County, and Clintonville in Venango County.
