Chanceford, Penn

Fire Damages Chanceford Township Pizza Shop

Mar. 6, 2010

Flames tore through the roof of a Chanceford Township pizza shop Friday night, with a fire official saying a grease fire is to blame.

Firefighters responded at 6:38 p.m. to Treasa's Pizza & Subs, 2564 Delta Road, where the fire had started on a stove located in the middle of the restaurant, New Bridgeville Fire Co. Capt. Kelly Ettinger said.

"When I got on the scene, it was already through the roof," she said. "It just took off really quick. . . . it's an old building."

At first, firefighters fought the fire from the inside, but soon retreated to attack from the exterior because of "unsafe conditions," Ettinger said.

Ettinger said the restaurant was in operation with patrons and employees inside when the fire broke out. No one was injured, and all of them had evacuated before firefighters arrived, she said.

Just north of the fire, Dyan Hulslander, who helps run husband Dennis "Niko" Hulslander's gym, Vision Fitness, said a friend called and told her about the fire.

Dyan Hulslander walked outside with sons Noah, 8, and Gabe, 7.

"We saw flames coming out of the back of the building, higher than the building," she said. "At one point, it looked like there was no fire, it was just black smoke, then before you knew it, the roof was just in flames."

The fire attracted more onlookers, especially those from Vision Fitness.

"Quite a few of our members came out and were just devastated for Treasa," she said, referring to restaurant owner

Treasa Felton.

Ettinger said firefighters were able to get the fire under control in about an hour. She was unsure if Treasa's would be able to repair its roof, or if the remainder of the building would have to be leveled and the entire restaurant rebuilt.

She said the restaurant has been a fixture on Route 74 for several decades.

"I know it's been here for over 30 years, because I remember it when I was a kid," Ettinger said.