ELECTRICAL FIRE AT MURPHY’S BEER DISTRIBUTOR IN TAMAQUA

Emergency personnel from multiple communities were called to William J. Murphy Beer Distributor in Tamaqua shortly after 8:30 PM today (Feb. 15, 2014) for a report of a commercial structure fire. The business is located at 443 Pine Street (SR309) at the north end of the borough.
Workers noticed a funny odor inside the building and went outside to further investigate. They then called 911 after seeing smoke emanating from the eves and roof of the structure.
Assistant Fire Chief James “Jimmy” Connely stated that it didn’t take long for firefighters to get the fire under control.
All four Tamaqua fire companies responded. Also on scene were Tamaqua Police, Tamaqua Ambulance, Tamaqua Fire Police, Tamaqua Rescue Squad and firefighters from Coaldale; as well as Rapid Intervention Teams (RIT) from Lansford and Summit Hill. Hometown was also dispatched, but later canceled.
In addition to cold temperatures and blistering winds, the physical location of the business added an obstacle for firefighters, as it slightly overhangs a portion of the Little Schuylkill River.
Tamaqua Fire Police detoured traffic around that section of Pine Street (SR309) for about an hour and a half.
Connely stated the cause of the fire was electrical in nature. No injuries were reported.
“All the responders did a great job keeping this fire under control,” said Connely. South Ward Fire Chief Mark Bower praised the response of all emergency responders on scene, saying, “Everyone really worked well together.”