Harrisburg, PA — Update: A Harrisburg icon is destroyed after an early morning fire, taking with it nearly 170 years of history. Flames engulfed the Broad Street Market destroying one of the two buildings and leaving a community to grieve.
“It was more than a market, it was more than a store, it was really something that kept the community together and that is why everyone is out trying to do everything that they can to try and help those who have businesses. We want to get back to them because they have given back to us over the years,” said neighbor Kurt Knaus.
Catastrophic is the best way to describe the damage left behind by an early morning fire at the Broad Street Market. For the past 10 hours, community members have been coming to take a look at the mess left behind by the raging inferno. Forty vendors and almost two centuries of history in Harrisburg went up in smoke. Despite the pain, people are coming together to vow to rebuild this landmark.
"It's more than just a job for them, this is part of who they are. So, to lose it so suddenly, it's got to be heartbreaking,” said vendor Charles Pierce.
An unbelievable amount of flames poured through the brick building at the Broad Street Market around 1 a.m. By the time fire crews arrived, the flames were just too far advanced to make an interior attack. Despite efforts from the outside, the flames destroyed most of the historical venue.
Opened in 1860, the Broad Street Market is part of the fabric of this community. Encompassing two buildings, the structure with the most damage was built between 1874 and 1878, according to the market’s website.
Inside, over three dozen vendors sold mostly food. But more than just a market, this place served as a community spot for people to gather. Midtown without the market is almost too much to bear.
"Complete shock. It's traumatic. It’s devastating. This is like losing a relative who has been around for a very long time, like a great- grandmother. The heart and soul of Midtown,” said Vivian Sterstebrandler, neighbor.
An aerial view from Skyview 21 shows the extent of the damage to the building. While the walls are still standing, half of the roof caved in and the other half is barely holding on to its integrity. Because of the ferocity of the flames and the worry of a roof collapse, firefighters were never able to enter the building.
Amazingly, despite all of the damage, no one was hurt. The market was open yesterday but was scheduled to be closed until Thursday.
Now, the owners are trying to determine the next step.
As of right now, investigators are surveying the damage, but the cause of the fire remains under investigation. The city is planning a news conference at 3 p.m. to update the investigation.
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Authorities are on scene investigating a fire that broke out at a major Harrisburg hot spot.
According to Harrisburg Fire officials, the incident happened at around 12:57 a.m. on Monday at the Broad Street Market.
Crews say no one was in the building at the time of the fire and that camera footage is being reviewed to find the cause of the blaze.
Luckily, officials state no one was in the building at the time of the fire.
There has not yet been an estimate on the damage the flames caused.
"Some great tactical decisions were made and unfortunately, we lost a historic landmark here in Harrisburg, but I'm sure you know we’re already looking at what that looks like in the future,“ says Fire Chief of Harrisburg, Brian Enterline.
The Market is made up of two buildings, a stone one facing Third St. and a slightly newer brick building at the rear; the brick building is the one that caught fire.
This is a developing story, stay with CBS 21 News for more details.
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