Building Fire Under Investigation In Upper Gwynedd

UPPER GWYNEDD TOWNSHIP, PA — A large fire was extinguished in Upper Gwynedd Tuesday afternoon, with first responders working on the scene for hours.

The incident began at around 4:30 p.m. on Church Road.

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The fire started in a partially demolished building that was engulfed in flames when crews arrived.

Firefighters battled the blaze in defensive mode, meaning they did not enter the building but contained it from the outside.

The Upper Gwynedd Township Fire Department, North Penn Volunteer Fire Company, and multiple other agencies were on scene for about three hours bringing the scene under control.

Officials said the commercial structure was vacant when the blaze began.

The cause of the fire is not yet known and is under investigation by the Upper Gwynedd Fire Marshal’s Office.

Local leaders praised the work of first responders in the brutal heat Tuesday.

"The vast majority, if not all of the firefighters who responded today are volunteers," Upper Gwynedd Commissioner Liz McNaney said in a statement. "These brave men and women stepped away from their personal lives, putting themselves in harm's way on a hot afternoon without asking for anything in return.With an intense heatwave on the horizon, these local heroes will continue to face brutal conditions to protect our neighborhoods. So, if you see a firefighter or first responder in the coming days, take a brief moment to express your gratitude."

No injuries were reported.

It's the latest significant fire in the county over the past week or so, with destructive blazes at a Pottstown home, the Philmont Country Club in Lower Moreland, and a playground equipment factory in West Norriton.