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Ross Fire Marshal Suspects Electrical Problem Triggered Babcock Blvd Fire

One tenant moving to temporary location and plans to reopen Tuesday.

 
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Rachel Kinney, 17, was getting her hair done for the Peters Township prom when the building caught fire.

Although his investigation is not complete, Ross Township's Fire Marshal said he's "leaning" toward an electrical problem as the cause of Friday's multiple-alarm fire which destroyed a three-story commercial building at 3185 Babcock Blvd. in Ross Township.

"We've found nothing out of the ordinary to suggest this was anything other than an accidental fire," said Fire Marshal John Reubi. "We plan to go back to the scene Monday to check on a couple possible points of origin, then hopefully we will know for sure and can let the insurance companies get in and do their work."

The structure is home to several offices, including Arbors Management Inc.; Santucci Insurance; Eisen & Associates, an attorney's office; Massage Centre for Fibromyalgia and the Studio Raw hair salon.

Salon employees were back today to remove anything salvagable from their place of business. They hope to reopen Tuesday, at a temporary salon, located at 3471 Babcock Boulevard, right next to the recently opened Barber's Edge.

Salon owner Dan Burda said he had just finished hair for a wedding party and was about to start up-dos for several students who are attending prom in Peters Township when he was alerted the roof was on fire. 

"We had smelled smoke, but we just thought it was a blow dryer," Burda said.

Burda said he called 911 after seeing candle-sized flames on the roof. The building was evacuated a short time later. Burda said he was told to get out before the whole building went up in flames.

The building had several additions, which made the fire that much harder to fight. "There were so many void space in there," said Reubi. "We had no access to those spaces until the fire burned through."

Within an hour of firefighters' arrival, the rear of the building had collapsed. No one was hurt.

Erin Mullen, a stylist at the salon, said employees were able to grab cash from a computer before leaving the building. The rest of the salon, including a baby grand piano, was destroyed in the flames. 

"We will rebuild bigger and better, " Mullen said.

As firefighters doused the building, Burda and his staff finished the prom up-dos for students in the parking lot. 

"We love what we do," Burda said.

Today a large, homemade sign hangs on the side of the burned out building proclaiming "Team Studio Raw will prevail."

Did you witness the fire? Tell us in comments.

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Related Topics: Babcock Boulevard, Fire, and Ross Township

Mara Addison

7:16 pm on Friday, May 18, 2012

Thanks, Patch, for always being where we need you to be.

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Richard Cook

8:41 pm on Friday, May 18, 2012

Thank you for following us. We learned some interesting tidbits about the fire, working to confirm, please check back over the weekend.

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Arika Lynn Steele

3:30 pm on Saturday, May 19, 2012

I know the community will come together for Rohn and Dan. They do so much for so many organizations.

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Michael Burik

6:11 pm on Saturday, May 19, 2012

Saw a poor guy walking out holding some kind of picture frame. He turned it around to show it to me: He had taken his college diploma, burnt and water damaged, but still in tact.

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Michael C Eisen

8:21 pm on Sunday, May 20, 2012

Hi Michael, that was me attorney Michael Eisen carrying my law school diploma, which a fire fighter bravely battled a fire to retrieve. It was burnt and ' extra crispy', but it was still my diploma. Thanks Carl, fire fighter from Millvale who selflessly fought a blaze to bring me the remains of my diploma. Carl.....You Da Man
Michael Eisen, Bankruptcy Counsel

Dan Burda

7:50 pm on Saturday, May 19, 2012

The Love and Support we have received from EVERYONE is truly overwhelming. We have had multiple offers from other Salons in our hometown to use their extra stations, People coming out of the wood work to help, etc. We will Prevail, This was just a building, and in 3-4 months, I will be honored to share our new permanent STUDIO RAW with each and every one of you. xoxo

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Dat Ross Guy

1:32 pm on Sunday, May 20, 2012

Tremendous credit is due to the VOLUNTEER firefighters from all over the North Hills who took time out of a beautiful day to come out and fight this fire. These men and women donned hundreds of pounds of gear on a hot summer day to fight an even hotter fire without ever once thinking of themselves or their families. Please remember this next time that donation envelope comes in the mail or next time a firefighter is standing out holding a boot for donations. Kudos to our fire and EMS service.

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Dan Burda

11:12 pm on Monday, October 22, 2012

The volunteers through fire and police was overwhelming. True courage to run into a building that is on fire and ready to crumble. I've never known this courage until I watched it happen before my eyes. They are heros in every sense of the word.

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