GIRARDVILLE - Flames tore through an iconic store in the borough Wednesday night that although closed was scheduled to reopen in the near future.
Firefighters were called to the former Jiffy Mart at 146 N. Second St. about 7:30 p.m. and found heavy smoke coming from the large, brick building.
Girardville police Officer in Charge John Borchick was one of the first on scene and said smoke was coming from both the North Second and East Ogden Street sides of the building.
Borough Fire Chief Frank Zangari Jr. was busy directing fire ground operations and was unable to comment on the fire Wednesday night.
Shortly after arriving on scene, Zangari called for a second alarm, bringing in firefighters from Ashland, Shenandoah, Mahanoy Plane and other communities.
About 30 minutes into the fire, heavy smoke billowed from the windows and was quickly replaced by the deep orange glow of the fire.
Firefighters struggled to contain the flames but could not and were forced to take a defensive stance as the roof above the convenience store part of the building collapsed.
Borchick said the intensity of the smoke increased quickly from the time he arrived until he walked about a block and a half to the other side of the building.
"It was that quick. All of a sudden, I couldn't see the red and blue lights of my police car," he said.
All of North Second Street and parts of A and Ogden streets were blocked by area fire police who directed traffic around fire hoses and fire apparatus.
The investigation into the cause of the fire will continue today and a state police fire marshal may be called to the scene.