Firefighters hampered as ‘thousands of rounds’ explode in Waynesburg apartment fire
Courtesy of Rodney Phillips
Firefighters attack a blaze at 238 W. High St. in Waynesburg that began about 6:30 p.m. Monday.
Mike Jones/Observer-Reporter
Firefighters look over the scene of a fire in the 200 block of West High Street in Waynesburg Monday night.
{child_flags:editors_pick}Firefighters hampered as ‘thousands of rounds’ explode in Waynesburg apartment fire
{child_byline}By Mike Jones
Regional editor
mjones@observer-reporter.com
{/child_byline}
WAYNESBURG – Multiple fire departments responded to a blaze that ripped through an apartment complex in Waynesburg’s main business district Monday night, but were pushed back as ammunition rounds stored in one of the units exploded from the heat.
No one was injured in the fire that started about 6:30 p.m. at 238-244 W. High St., and firefighters were able to rescue two dogs in one of the upstairs units that were found huddled under a mattress after the roof collapsed.
Waynesburg-Franklin fire Chief Jeff Marshall said volunteer firefighters responding to the scene had to stay back as “thousands of rounds of ammunition were popping inside” of a first floor apartment. They were able to fight the fire only after “everything quit popping” in the ground floor apartment unit, Marshall said.
Three apartment units in the building were heavily damaged in the fire. Kalsey Insurance, a business in an adjacent building next door, sustained minor smoke damage and expected to reopen at the end of the week, owner Ross Kalsey said.
Kenneth “Gene” Bennett, who lived in an upstairs apartment, was in Carmichaels when the fire started and returned to find the building on fire. He said his two Chihuahuas, Bella and Scrappy, were able to hide under a mattress as the roof collapsed and waited until firefighters could rescue them.
“Glad no one was hurt,” Bennett said before becoming emotional. “I got my dogs. I thought they were gone.”
Four people were living in the three apartment units, Marshall said. Everything inside the building was destroyed.
Marshall said it took about 90 minutes before firefighters were able to get the blaze under control.
The state police fire marshal is investigating the blaze.
High Street in the borough was closed for about two hours while firefighters battled the blaze. Fire departments from Jefferson, Rices Landing, Carmichaels-Cumberland Township and Center assisted Waynesburg-Franklin.