Flames rip through large building in Butler

Fire crews spent hours attacking a fire at a commercial building on South Cliff Street and Center Avenue in the City of Butler. The blaze forced residents to evacuate the apartments next door.

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“All I could see was fire coming out of the top of the building,” said resident Robin Kuzma.

The sight of flames and billowing smoke awakened neighbors living in apartments attached to the structure.

“And there were some people arguing in the alley down by where the fire is...not ten minutes later, somebody is knocking, pounding on my door ‘Fire! Fire! Everybody get out!” said Kuzma.

Kuzma and several others left their apartments with only blankets and the clothes on their backs.

One neighbor captured cell phone video of heavy smoke and the glow from fire in the air when she walked outside.

Several fire departments responded to the call around 3:30 a.m. Friday.

“It is unstable and it does appear some of the roof did collapse and some of the third floor did collapse into the second floor as well” said Butler Fire Chief Chris Switala.

The building is the former Elliot furniture store. It was boarded, vacant and being used for storage.

“There was actually one car in there because it actually rolled out, partially out of the building during the fire,” said Switala.

Firefighters attacked hot spots from above, while police closed parts of South McKean Street, Wayne Street and Center Avenue and detoured traffic. The fire disrupted railroad traffic, too.

“We had hose lines stretched across rail tracks so we had to contact them to shut down rail traffic,” said Switala. Adjacent apartments have minor smoke and water damage.

Adjacent apartments have minor smoke and water damage.

The Red Cross is assisting five people affected by the fire.

No one was hurt, and the cause is under investigation.

Switala tells Channel 11 news the building is unstable after the roof collapse and they are contacting the building owner to secure the property. The building will likely need to be demolished.

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