GREEN TREE, Pa. — An auto repair shop was among multiple businesses and apartments damaged in a fire along Noblestown Road in Green Tree on Tuesday.
Dozens of firefighters and multiple departments battled the blaze.
The fire appears to have started in a mechanic’s garage right next to Joe’s Auto Classics.
Joe Marnik was in his office when it started.
“There was an explosion shortly before that that just rocked the whole building. My shop and his shop filled with black smoke. You couldn’t see,” Marnik told Channel 11.
He says he smelled gas and grabbed a fire extinguisher.
“I emptied the fire extinguisher and got the heck out of there.”
Crews used water and foam to put out the fire.
“Just sick in my stomach,” building owner April Delaney said.
The building houses Joe’s, multiple other garages and five apartments. It’s been her family since 1980.
“Two apartments are lost. Two tenants are without a place to live,” she said.
Fire officials tell Channel 11 that one of those tenants was transported to the hospital with chest pain. The other says he lost everything and is getting help finding a place to stay.
One firefighter and another tenant were also taken to a hospital, but are expected to be okay.
“I’m sure my dad is rolling his grave right now,” Delaney said.
Marnik is glad it wasn’t worse.
“We all had guardian angels. Yep, we all had guardian angels, today.”
The Fire Marshal is investigating the cause.
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