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A significant fire that broke out Monday night (December 8) at a former furniture store in Brecknock Township, Berks County, has been ruled accidental. The fire occurred at the old Griffith & Bixler store on New Holland Road, now used partly for storage by a window-installation company. Despite extensive damage, no injuries were reported.
Fire crews from nearly two dozen companies across Berks and Lancaster counties responded to the blaze, which began shortly before 10 p.m. According to Brandon Zerman, assistant chief of Brecknock Township Fire Company, the fire posed a challenge as it spread through the void space between the roof and ceiling. "It ran the whole roofline," Zerman said, highlighting the difficulty in containing the fire due to the building's divided floor space.
Crews battled the fire for nearly six hours in cold conditions, which slowed the water supply and created icy surfaces. Route 625 was closed until after daybreak as firefighters worked to control the blaze. Canteen units from the Salvation Army and North Penn Goodwill Service provided hot food and drinks to the volunteers.
A state police fire marshal investigated the incident and determined the fire was accidental, though the exact cause remains undetermined. No damage estimate has been provided at this time.