Unity shopping plaza blaze was accidental, state police fire marshal says

A state police fire marshal has ruled that an April 23 blaze in a Unity shopping plaza was accidental.

Trooper Chet Bell said there was an electrical fault or failure where the sign belonging to Roadman’s Country Living Shoppe was affixed to an overhang on the building.

He estimated damage at more than $1 million.

Most of the fire-damaged strip mall remained boarded up and fenced off Wednesday. Goodwill is open for donations, but the thrift store and Harbor Freight are closed for renovations, according to a sign on the fence in front of the neighboring stores.

The blaze broke out around 3:15 a.m. in the area of Roadman’s Country Living Shoppe and flames consumed a 250-foot section of wooden canopy that covers the sidewalks in front of the strip of stores, according to fire officials. Six other businesses and four empty storefronts had varying degrees of damage. No one was hurt.

Ralph Scalise, owner of Scalise Real Estate Co. and property manager, said bids will be sought soon to replace the canopy that was damaged. Workers eventually will start in front of Jerald Jewelers and Plaza News Stand, both of which reopened shortly after the fire. They are on the opposite end of the strip from Goodwill and Harbor Freight.

“We have a lot of work to do,” he said. “Hopefully, we’re going to open with bigger and better things.”

Construction is ongoing at Harbor Freight, said spokesperson Donna Walker.

“Given the extent of the damage, we are basically rebuilding a full new store,” Walker said. “We’re looking forward to serving our customers in the local community when we reopen around mid-August.”

SCG Hobby remained closed Tuesday but promised in a letter posted on the door that customers eventually will be welcomed back in again.

“Many things need replaced and when we reopen, everything, including the products, will be brand new,” the letter said. “Right now, we must let the recovery process happen safely and thoroughly, so that we can be back sooner, stronger and safer than ever before.”

My Fitness Kitchen, which was next door to Roadman’s, sustained heavy damage. Volunteers and staff members cleaned up exercise equipment and moved it to a vacant spot elsewhere in Latrobe 30 Shoppes to reopen less than a week after the fire.

Roadman’s staff were able to get into the store about a month later to do inventory, according to a social media post. Items have been moved to a Ligonier Township space where clearance sales are occasionally being held. The owner could not be reached Wednesday.

Scalise said Goodwill is still in the process of cleaning up. A message left for Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania was not returned.