FORWARD TWP, Pa. — A massive fire broke out early Friday morning at a marina along the Monongahela River in Forward Township.
Fire crews were called to McCrossin’s Landing along Edsel Lane a little after 1 a.m. after a CSX train crew spotted the fire and called 911.
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The fire quickly grew to two alarms and crews from neighboring Westmoreland and Washington counties were called in to assist.
The assistant fire chief told Channel 11 that the marina had been closed for some time but the owner says he was planning to reopen.
One firefighter suffered a minor injury due to a fall. They were checked out at the scene and are expected to be okay.
“[It’s] absolutely devastating. I had my life savings down here, and it’s all gone now,” said owner Sam McCrossin. “I’ve always been a boater, so this was going to be my retirement down here. But unfortunately, it’s not working out that way.”
For McCrossin, the marina was a labor of love. He bought the building in 2017, then renovated it himself before hitting an unexpected hurdle.
“I was open a season before I lost access to my property,” McCrossin said.
Ever since, McCrossin has been working to get the marina back open, but even with those plans now on hold, he remains optimistic.
“I am definitely going to try to rebuild. I did it once, I can do it again,” McCrossin said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, but McCrossin has this message for anyone who might be able to help.
“I would like to offer a $5,000 reward for any information to any type of arrest in this situation,” McCrossin said.
The Allegheny County Fire Marshal is investigating.
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