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Cause Of 3-Alarm Fire At Grocery Store In Darby Borough Still Under Investigation


By Syma Chowdhry

DARBY BOROUGH, Pa. (CBS) - Firefighters are still on the scene, keeping an eye on the situation and putting out any left over hot spots.

The fire began around 6:00 a.m. Saturday and officials say firefighters were working under some tough conditions (see related story).

Two nearby apartment buildings were evacuated displacing about a dozen residents.

Three people suffered minor injuries, including one firefighter, but officials say it could have been worse.

"The chief and the operations lieutenant made a decision to move the guys back and in a safe position and fight it with external lines. Had they not done that we could have had a fatality here," said chief Robert Smythe.

The market is destroyed and cleaners next door has water and smoke damage.

"Normally when we have a major fire on Main Street we lose two or three stores. We only lost one. Second one has damage, but we haven't lost it. That is a credit to the firemen," Smythe explained.

Officials have closed this portion of Main Street between Ridge Avenue and Powell Avenue.

As for displaced residents, a few of them were able to return to their apartments, but right now they do not have any power.

The Red Cross says 15 residents stayed at Darby Borough Hall.

So far there is no word on what caused this blaze.

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