NAPA BUILDING FATE UNCLEAR
Electrical malfunction caused Emporium fire
By James Moate Endeavor News

Emporium Volunteer Fire Department Chief Butch Housler (shown) and fire investigator John Ehlers inspected the fire at the NAPA store in Emporium and determined that the blaze was caused by a faulty electrical circuit.

Cleanup continues at the NAPA Auto Parts site in downtown Emporium, where a roaring fire caused heavy damage last Thursday night and Friday morning.

Owner Dave Stewert said this week that he has not yet decided whether he'll rebuild at the Fourth Street business or choose another option.

Townspeople are still marveling over the work of voluntary firefighters from Emporium and surrounding communities to save the adjacent Midtowne Sports Bar and Grill and its upstairs apartments during a lengthy battle under frigid conditions.

Veteran fire chief Butch Housler told Endeavor News that he and certified fire investigator John Ehlers from Elma, N.Y., determined that the blaze was triggered by a faulty electrical circuit in an upstairs wall cavity. Apparently, sparks fell to a combustible area and ignited a fire that burned through the wall.

Ehlers was brought in by Stewert's insurance company to assist in the investigation.

Housler expressed pride in the work of the almost 60 Emporium Volunteer Fire Department personnel who responded, even as he acknowledged that many of them have faced stiffer firefighting challenges over the year.

"This fire was not as difficult to fight as it may have looked," said Housler. "But I am very proud of the firefighters. They did an excellent job in containing the fire to just one building."

He also expressed his gratitude to those who supported emergency responders on the scene, among them EVFD Auxiliary, Sheetz, Uni-Mart, Aroma Bakery & Café, Emporium Pharmacy and Pete Grimone.

Mutual aid came from emergency responders from St. Marys, Ridgway, Roulette, Austin, Norwich Township, Port Allegany, Coudersport and Sinnemahoning. Mountaineer Search and Rescue, Emporium Borough Police and street crew, Pa. State Police and Cameron County Ambulance Service also assisted.

Todd Schwartz, owner of the Midtowne and its upstairs apartments, thanked the responders for saving his property. Surprisingly, his business suffered only minor water damage to the kitchen ceiling.

An upstairs apartment and its hallway were only slightly damaged. The only part of the building that ignited was the rubber roof, which was extinguished immediately.

Housler said the NAPA building is likely a total loss, but believes most of the inventory can be salvaged. Jason Sarnosky, who is an EVFD member, occupied an apartment that was destroyed. Three other apartments above the NAPA store were unoccupied.

Housler recalled when a former NAPA Auto Parts site, now JSH, caught fire.

"There were probably 10 to 15 of the same guys who fought both fires," the chief said. "In this fire, the apartments overhead were burning. So that made it more difficult to extinguish."