Unity Township, Pennsylvania was rocked by a massive overnight fire that heavily damaged multiple businesses at the Latrobe 30 Shoppes. The fire broke out around 3:15 a.m. in the strip mall that housed stores such as Goodwill, Harbor Freight Tools, Roadman’s Country Living Shop, a tanning salon, My Fitness Kitchen, and others. Lloydsville Volunteer Fire Chief Brian Schultheis stated that the fire seemed to have started outside Roadman’s Country Living and spread throughout the overhang of the roof and outside of the businesses.
Upon arrival, firefighters found flames engulfing the front of the building, stretching between 75 to 100 feet and shooting 20 to 30 feet in the air. Seven fire companies from Unity Township and others from neighboring areas were dispatched to the scene to help combat the blaze. Two businesses were severely damaged by the fire, while others in the plaza suffered from water and smoke damage. Fortunately, no injuries were reported during the incident. Property manager Ralph Scalise expressed his devastation over the fire’s impact on the community, describing the plaza as a valuable asset.
Once the fire was extinguished, crews focused on cleanup efforts, as significant parts of the plaza’s facade had collapsed onto the sidewalk. The Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal is investigating