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Fire destroys Dollar General store in Shenandoah

Flames broke out around 4 p.m. Monday at the store along Route 924 near Gold Star Plaza in the borough.

SHENANDOAH, Pa. — Smoke billowed out of Dollar General along Route 924 in the borough of Shenandoah Monday afternoon.

"Once the first apparatus got inside, there was heavy smoke already showing when they attempted to make it inside, flames were already coming chasing us out, so it was already up on the roof, making its way to the front of the building. So we pulled everyone out pretty quick. We had people up on the roof, but then the roof started to give away, so we got them off the roof quick," said Assistant Fire Chief Robert Selbi, Defender Hose Company.

More than 100 firefighters were on scene from several departments around Schuylkill County to battle the flames.

Assistant Chief Robert Selbi says two alarms rang out for extra fire tankers due to a lack of water on site.

"Up here in Turkey Run, we have a water tank behind the one firehouse that feeds this section. There wasn't enough water in it, so we had to call for extra water," said Asst. Chief Selbi.

Alan Haberl of Shenandoah saw the blaze from the neighboring Redner's market. He said crews were quickly on scene.

"There was black smoke just in the front of the building coming out immediately. The roof was completely, I mean, just engulfed in white smoke, so I mean it was a scene because that whole building was just covered in smoke, you know," said Alan Haberl, Shenandoah.

Crews say the fire was under control in a little less than an hour.

Selbi says there was some difficulty due to the materials inside the store, "Inside because all the paper products caught on fire, then all the cleaning supplies, your automotive stuff, a lot of stuff is flammable, with that stuff the fire just took off really quick."

Asst. Chief Selbi tells Newswatch 16 that no firefighters or workers in the store were injured. 

A Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal is investigating the cause of the fire.

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