Fire marshal investigates API blaze in Kittanning
The state police fire marshal is investigating a Wednesday night blaze that badly damaged an auto parts and supply business in downtown Kittanning that is headquartered in Butler.
The fire at API Autobody Products on South Water Street, however, is not believed to be suspicious, authorities said.
As many as 100 firefighters from seven departments battled the blaze, which took about 90 minutes to contain. No one was injured.
“It looks and appears to have started at the center of the structure,” said Gene Stephens, chief of the Kittanning Hose, Hook & Ladder Company 1.
An office area is located in the center of the 60-foot-by-100-foot heavy steel pole building, which has beams and concrete walls and is topped with a concrete roof.
Stephens described the damage as a “total loss,” but the Palermo family, who owns the business, could not immediately confirm that assessment. The property is insured.
“We're just thankful no one was hurt,” said manager Jeremy Palermo. “It could have been worse.”
Founded in 1968, the paint, body and equipment distributor is headquartered on South Monroe Street in Butler. The company has 24 locations servicing both wholesale and walk-in customers across Western Pennsylvania, Northeast Ohio and Southwest New York.
The fire call came in around 9:20 p.m. at the structure just two blocks from the Kittanning 1 fire station.
“As soon as we got on the truck and pulled out, we could see smoke showing already,” Stephens said.
The business closed sometime between 4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. Wednesday and was locked when the first crew arrived.
“We popped the door open and made entry into the structure,” Stephens said.
But the attack team only made it in about 20 to 25 feet before retreating.
“It got too hot for the guys,” Stephens said, “and they backed out.”The attack shifted from an offensive to a defensive operation, with crews surrounding and drowning the building with water from hose lines.“We opened it up, windows and doors,” Stephens said, and “finally broke through the roof.”Three ladder trucks were deployed, along with manpower numbering between 70 and 100 people.Once the fire started, officials said, it was fueled by paints, lacquers, varnishes and thinners. Surprisingly, Stephens said, there were no explosions from the flammable materials or propane tanks inside.Armstrong County's hazardous material team was called in and helped firefighters use dikes and absorbent pads to prevent chemicals from leaking into the Allegheny River.South Water Street between Market and Jacob streets was closed during the fire fight. Hydrants supplied sufficient water for the battle, Stephens said, and the freezing temperatures did not pose any additional problems for firefighters.Trooper Sean Christofferson, a deputy fire marshal assigned to investigate the cause of the blaze, could not be reached for comment.Assisting Kittanning 1 firefighters were departments from Kittanning 4 and 6, Manorville, Ford City, West Kittanning and Rayburn. The last crew returned to its station around 3 a.m. Thursday.The owners were not immediately allowed inside to get a look at the damage, said Jeremy Palermo.He said the three employees at the Kittanning location are now working at the Butler site in the wake of the fire. The business is also serving its Kittanning area customers out of Butler.Palermo noted that the Kittanning location was formerly a car wash. It also made an appearance in the Richard Gere thriller “The Mothman Prophecies,” which shot some scenes in Kittanning.
