Fire Severely Damages Building; No One Hurt

No one was hurt but two families were forced out of their apartments after a fire at property owned by Dan DeFrank at 144 Davis Street.

Bradford City Firefighters were called to the working structure fire at 6:41 p.m. Sunday. When they arrived “there was heavy smoke and fire showing from the Bisett’s side of the building,” said firefighter Greg Lewis.

He said firefighters were able to contain the fire to the middle portion of the building and there was no extension to the store -- DeFrank’s Appliances.

The families -- Frank and Linda Pegeau and Terry and Christopher Riley -- had to leave their homes because of smoke damage. There was heavy smoke damage to other parts of the building as well.

Wind caused the fire to blow toward Bisett Building Center, which did have some heat damage with siding starting to melt off, but Lewis said firefighters quickly squelched that problem.

Fifteen firefighters from the city and Bradford Township were on the scene until 8:47 p.m.

Lewis said because of the heat and humidity, firefighters rotated out more than usual.

“It was pretty warm,” he said.

There were no injuries.

A state police fire marshal is investigating.