Fire destroys Waynesburg Yamaha showroom
Waynesburg fire
Observer-Reporter
The showroom of the Waynesburg Yamaha dealership off Route 21 in Franklin Township that was destroyed by fire
Employees, customers, friends, family and business associates gather for a quick bite to eat inside the new showroom at Waynesburg Yamaha, owned by Brian Vasko. The building saw minimal damage after fire broke out in an adjoining showroom.
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Fire damage to the Waynesburg Yamaha off Route 21 in Franklin Township.
The showroom of the Yamaha motorcycle dealership in Franklin Township suffered heavy damage in a fire Tuesday night.
Photo courtesy of Richard Thomas
Photo courtesy of Richard Thomas
The showroom of the Waynesburg Yamaha dealership off Route 21 in Franklin Township was destroyed by fire Tuesday night.
Waynesburg fire Chief Jeff Marshall said firefighters responded about 10:40 p.m. to find flames coming through the roof of the building at 100 Elm Drive. He said no one was in the building and no injuries were reported.
The fire was mostly contained to the showroom, which had several vehicles inside, Marshall said. The fire did “probably at least $500,000” in damages to the facility, but it was not a total loss, he said. The shop where repair work is done had only smoke damage.
The owner of the dealership is Brian Vasko, who said Wednesday that a firewall between the showroom and a new addition to the building prevented the fire from spreading.
The new building, which he plans to use as a showroom for all-terrain vehicles, was built last year. It did sustain minor water damage to the floor and ceiling.
The billboard behind the store was also damaged by the flames.
Jefferson, Carmichaels and Rices Landing fire departments assisted with putting out the fire in cold temperatures and high winds. Waynesburg firefighters were called back to the scene Wednesday morning when it rekindled. Marshall said a “little bit of debris” had ignited again.
Marshall said the cause of the fire is not yet known, but the state police fire marshal is investigating. The building that burned was a former Golden Corral restaurant that burned down in the early 2000s, Marshall said. Sometime after it was rebuilt, it became the Yamaha store.
Vasko said several employees, customers and community members showed up Wednesday to help clean up from the fire and work on inventory. He said he plans to have the shop reopened and running by Saturday, or at least be available by phone.