A fire that destroyed landmark Ruthie’s Diner started in or near a cooking appliance in the kitchen, said state police fire marshal Trooper Chet Bell.
The Jan. 20 blaze at the Ligonier Township diner has been ruled accidental and Bell said in a news release that he continues to investigate the cause. Video surveillance that showed the fire has been obtained, he said.
The blaze was reported shortly after 8 p.m. along Route 30 just east of Ligonier Borough.
Firefighters battled difficult conditions extinguishing the flames, including ice and single-digit temperatures, authorities said. The fire was being fueled by an active natural gas line until it was shut off. Firefighters worked at the scene for about five hours.
The Covenant Presbyterian Church’s Men’s Fellowship Breakfast Group is planning a fundraiser on Feb. 21 to help employees who worked at Ruthie’s Diner. Kathy Brown, the wife of one of the members, said the group had breakfast at Ruthie’s, a spot they frequented, the morning of the fire.
“They wanted to give back,” she said.
The pancake breakfast benefit will be 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 21 at the church’s fellowship hall, 200 N. Market St., Ligonier. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12. Additional donations will be accepted.
The diner sits on about 4 acres and has been owned by Ruth and Fred Stevens since 1986, according to Westmoreland County property tax records. The family inherited the restaurant from Ruth Stevens’ late aunt, Ruth Clark. It previously was known as Burnsey’s Diner.
Before the fire, the restaurant had been listed for sale by Berkshire Hathaway with an asking price of $1.2 million, which includes three cottages behind the business. The listing says the diner has been a staple in the community since 1957 and that it was built in 1930.
Ruthie’s Diner was known for its fresh baked pies and diner classics — including grilled ham and cheese and Reuben sandwiches, fried oysters, liver-and-onions and pork chops. Ruth Stevens once made homemade candy to sell in the diner, including peanut butter meltaways, chocolate-covered cherries and buttercrunch.
