Fire breaks out inside abandoned Century III Mall

WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. (KDKA) — A fire broke out inside the abandoned Century III Mall in West Mifflin on Tuesday.

The fire started around 6 a.m. Several units responded to the scene, including some from the nearby South Hills and others as far away as northeastern Washington County. 

Once the third biggest mall in the world and a retail wonder when it opened in 1979, the mall — which has been vacant since 2019 — is now a place known for mishaps and danger. Tuesday's danger was the fire.

"There was heavy smoke in the building," West Mifflin Fire Chief Gregory McCulloch said. "The medics tried to make entry to make sure there was nobody in there."

Within minutes, crews worked to put out the fire.

"When they entered, there was a lot of smoke," the chief said. "They had a hard time locating the fire. Finally, they located it above the food court in the walls of the old recruiting station."

One of the biggest concerns for first responders had to do with if anyone was inside the mall, a place known for squatters and drug activity.

"It's extremely unsafe," McCulloch said. "There's a lot of mold. We get a lot of reports of people inside the mall."

The fire Marshall is investigating the cause of the fire.