THROOP, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — The headquarters of a truck company in Lackawanna County has been destroyed after a fire broke out early Wednesday morning.
Rubble, smoke, and hot spots are all that remain where Bolus Truck Parts and Towing once stood for the last 55 years on Sanderson Street in Throop.
Firefighters continued to extinguish the fire several hours after it first broke out.
"All came at about a quarter of three this morning. Police got on the scene and confirmed a working fire," stated Chief Rich Chowanec of the Dickson City Fire Department.
Firefighters battle Jenkins Township compactor fire
No one was injured in the fire that called for more than half a dozen fire companies to respond, a catastrophic sight for owner Bob Bolus.
"It was wiped out, I can’t believe the devastation. There’s something wrong here."
In addition to flames, crews were battling the extreme winter weather conditions where the water to extinguish the fire was quickly turning to ice.
Bolus says he suspects foul play and is working with the State Police Fire Marshal as they investigate what led to the fire.
"The building had no heat hooked up to it. We were just putting in a new heating system, so there’s no gas or anything even connected to it so to have a building go up like this isn’t right," explained Bolus.
An excavator pulled in to help with hot spots caused tension among owner Bolus and crew as Bolus insisted on not demolishing any part of the building until the cause of the fire was investigated.
"There’s unknown contents of the building and it’s better to be safe than sorry sending people in there and it’s just not a good situation," said Chief Chowanec.
The cause is still undetermined but a K9 was called in to look for possible accelerants used.
"They’re going to investigate it the way it sits, they’re not going to start tearing this down, tearing that down. There’s no reason for it," stated Bolus.
Bolus tells 28/22 News they recovered the recorder for its cameras on the property but they’re not sure if they will be able to get video off of it.
Road closures are in place from Cyprus to Underwood Road.
As for the cause of the fire, that remains under investigation.
