News

Fire rips through Lawrence County pavement business

LAWRENCE COUNTY, Pa. — A fire sparked late Tuesday night ripped through a Lawrence County business, but did not destroy it.

Investigators said the blaze was reported at Sealmaster on West State Street in Mahoning Township around 11:30 p.m.

Firefighters said the bulk of the company’s supplies are located in another building.

“The major tar and stuff that they have stored is in another building across the street, that stuff would have some toxic smoke and could have some bad stuff, but it’s stored in another building,” Mahoning Township fire Chief Francis Exposito said.

Sealmaster provides pavement product and equipment, and toxic chemicals are used in the process.

“The tanks in the back, we kept them cool and they are filled with asphalt sealing, so they’ll be able to be in business as soon as they can get electric to the pumps,” Exposito said.

Exposito said his crews had to fight the fire from the outside due to the intensity of the blaze.

A fireworks business is across the street, but luckily, the flames didn’t spread.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but the chief said it appears it was an accident.