Fire destroys Butler’s former Bantam Jeep building

November 02, 2025 Last Updated: November 02, 2025 05:43 PM Local News

Fire at the former Bantam building in Butler on Sun. Nov 2. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle

Holly Mead

More than 50 firefighters from 11 fire stations worked for hours early Sunday, Nov. 2, to battle a three-alarm blaze that destroyed the former Bantam Jeep building in Butler.

Firefighters arrived minutes after the fire was reported around 1:40 a.m. to see the roof collapse on the historic structure as they cut a lock to access the property.

“We were in a defensive operation the entire time,” Butler City Bureau of Fire Chief Christopher Switala said.

A fire at the former Bantam building was first reported at 1:41 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 2. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle

Despite more than four hours of effort to fight the fire, the building, which represented Butler’s claim to fame, is unstable and will need to be demolished, he explained Sunday morning after crews had cleared the scene at 6:18 a.m.

Firefighters from the Butler City Bureau of Fire arrived at the four-story building before 1:50 a.m., where they saw fire from the structure’s top two floors.

Before gaining access to the property, situated near Pullman Square, via a locked gate, the firefighters watched as the roof collapsed.

Butler County Emergency Services Dispatch reports indicated a second and third alarm were promptly sounded to ask for assistance in fighting the blaze.

“It was a long night and a lot of laborious work laying out hundreds of feet of hose to hit those hydrants to supply enough water,” Switala said.

The fire chief said more than a thousand feet of hose was laid to connect to numerous hydrants, including ones in the area of Woody and Hollywood drives. This was needed to supply enough water, he said.

Firemen gather after battling the fire that gutted the former Bantam building on Sun. Nov 2. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle

Holly Mead

Switala reported the fourth story of the structure collapsed about 20 minutes after crews arrived on scene.

After 90 minutes, he said the fire was knocked down, but through 6:18 a.m., firefighters continued to put out hot spots. The department secured the site and was expected to revisit it throughout the day Sunday.

“As the fire progressed, it caused the upper floors to collapse into the lower floors,” Switala said. “It will need to be demolished. The building owner will need to bring it down.”

The cause of the fire was not immediately known. Switala said the state police fire marshal was notified, and an investigation would look into some physical findings.

One firefighter suffered a minor injury and was treated on the scene.

Firemen gather after battling the fire that gutted the Bantam Jeep building on Sun. Nov 2. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle

Holly Mead

Firemen returns to their truck after spending most of the night battling the fire at the former Bantam Jeep building in Butler on Sun. Nov 2. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle

Holly Mead

A fire at the former Bantam building was first reported at 1:41 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 2. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle

Firemen gather after battling the fire that gutted the former Bantam Jeep building on Sun. Nov 2. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle

Holly Mead

Fire at the former Bantam Jeep building in Butler on Sun. Nov 2. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle

Holly Mead

Firemen return to their truck after spending most of the night battling the fire at the former Bantam Jeep building in Butler on Sun. Nov 2. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle

A fireman returns to his truck after spending most of the night battling the fire at the former Bantam Jeep building in Butler on Sun. Nov 2. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle

Holly Mead