Philipsburg catering business, upstairs apartment damaged in Sunday fire

Crews from Centre and Clearfield counties were called to the scene of a working fire in a two-story building at 112 E. Pine St. in Philipsburg on Sunday afternoon.

Philipsburg Fire Department crews were called to the scene at 2:18 p.m., according to dispatch reports. Upon arrival, John Huber, chief of Reliance Fire Company, said crews found heavy fire conditions at the back part of the building.

Brown Dog Catering operates in the first floor of the building, with an apartment on the second floor.

The fire was contained to the rear portion of Brown Dog Catering with smoke and water damage to the remainder of the building, Hope Fire Company Assistant Chief Justin Butterworth said. The adjoining buildings on either side of Brown Dog also sustained minor smoke damage.

The apartment above Brown Dog Catering was occupied at the time but everyone evacuated safety, Huber said. American Red Cross was called to assist the three displaced residents.

No injuries were reported and a cat was rescued from the apartment, Huber said.

“Due to the size of the building and the fire load we started asking for additional units,” Huber said.

Fire companies called to assist included Mountain Top, Alpha, Undine and Port Matilda. The additional units were also due to Sunday’s warm temperatures, Butterworth said.

“Typically we don’t have nine companies coming in for a one-alarm fire, but due to the heat and everyone getting tired quicker that’s why the other units were called,” he said.

The fire was marked under control at about 3 p.m.

Moshannon Valley EMS was also on scene and YMCA’s Traveling Table provided food and drinks for the volunteers.

The cause of the fire will be determined by the fire marshal, but Butterworth said it is not suspicious in nature.

This story was originally published May 3, 2020 at 2:36 PM.