Fire damages commercial garage in North Huntingdon; cause under investigation

North Huntingdon firefighters and police are investigating the cause of a blaze that extensively damaged a commercial garage and destroyed a skid loader that was parked inside, firefighters said.

The two-bay garage at 13421 Ardara Road was reported at 9:11 a.m.

William Hardy, chief of the Larimer Volunteer Fire Department, said when he stepped outside his home about three miles away he could already see heavy black smoke rising towards the sky.

“I knew when I saw the smoke, it was already going pretty good,” Hardy said.

Firefighters from North Huntingdon quickly extinguished a fire 9:11 a.m. Tuesday at a commercial garage on the 13000 block of Ardara Road. Larimer Chief William Hardy said the building was extensively damaged. and a skid loader parked inside was destroyed. No one was injured. pic.twitter.com/jGOg8srio9

— Paul Peirce (@ppeirce_trib) December 21, 2021

Hardy said two workers for the construction firm, which was not identified, said smoke was pouring out from inside the building when they arrived. No injuries were reported.

Although the building is located along a winding, narrow rural road near Westmoreland County’s border with Allegheny County, the area is serviced by fire hydrants.

Hardy said having the working fire hydrants nearby really helped firemen knock down the flames.

“We had it pretty well knocked down in 20 minutes,” Hardy said.

Foam was also used to extinguish the fire.

In addition to multiple units from North Huntingdon and other western Westmoreland County fire departments, firefighters from Monroeville and North Versailles in Allegheny County also responded.

A damage estimate was not available, but Hardy said damage was extensive and a skid loader parked inside the garage was destroyed.