Electrical Fire Shuts Down Zelienople Walgreens

An electrical fire shut down the Walgreens along Main Street in Zelienople during rush hour Thursday.

Zelienople Fire Chief Rob Reeb said there was an electrical short in the wires hanging above the building’s roof. The burning wires fell on top of the pharmacy, catching the roof on fire.

The wires then fell onto the ground and caused a small brush fire before shorting out.

When firefighters arrived on the scene at about 5:15 p.m., there was still a small fire, and lots of smoke, Reeb said. Volunteers quickly extinguished any remaining flames.

“As soon as the power line jumped off the roof it went out, because that was the source of the fire,” Reeb said.

Reeb said firefighters had to tear off some the pharmacy’s roof after the fire melted through the rubber material.

About a dozen employees and customers were evacuated from the store at the time of the fire, said Zelienople Assistant Fire Chief Justin Hart. Firefighters also shut off the power to the building.

The pharmacy will remain closed for the rest of Thursday evening. Hart said he expects the Walgreens to reopen at the normal time Friday morning.

Harmony, Evans City and Franklin Township firefighters assisted Zelienople at the scene.

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