First Posted: 12/22/2009

DALLAS – Dallas Fire Chief Harry Vivian said despite the visual damage of fire at the Dallas Shopping Center, many businesses mainly suffered smoke and water damage.

The Dallas shopping center suffered a fire early Tuesday morning.

AIMEE DILGER / The Times Leader

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“Although it looks bad, the fire was mostly contained to the roof and facade,” Vivian said.

Vivian said a passer-by called 911 at about 11:38 p.m. Monday when flames were spotted coming out of Dallas Cleaners, one of 18 businesses in the shopping center.

“We had a little bit of a wind condition. When the fire is up in the roof, the wind is going to shift the flames left and right and nothing is going to stop that,” Vivian said.

Flames spread through the roof and facade to other businesses. Firefighters cut holes in the roof to stop the spread of the fire, Vivian said.

Vivian said there are fire walls inside the building that helped slow the spread of the flames.

No injuries were reported, Vivian said.

Vivian said cold temperatures caused icy conditions in the parking lot.

Patients who had appointments at the Geisinger Dallas Clinic, located in the shopping center, are advised to go to the Geisinger Kistler Clinic on South Wilkes-Barre Boulevard in Wilkes-Barre at their appointed time. Patients should go to the second floor at the Geisinger Kistler Clinic.

According to a news release from Geisinger Health System, the Dallas clinic is intact but there is roof damage and no electrical service. Vaccines and other medications from the clinic were taken to the Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center for refrigeration.

POSTED: 9:09 a.m.

DALLAS – A fire ripped through the Dallas Shopping Center damaging at least 14 businesses late Monday night.

Firefighters from several Back Mountain hose companies responded to the shopping center on state Route 309 at about 11:30 p.m.

A large section of the roof in the middle of the building collapsed. There were no immediate reports of any injuries.

Businesses directly impacted by the fire were: Geisinger Health Clinic; Dallas Cleaners; ATT; Tobacco Road, Gallery of Sound; Gertrude Hawk Chocolate; Jackies Footnotes; Wild Bird Unlimited; SPRINT; Fresco Bar and Martini Grill, Ye Olde Clock and Gift Shoppe; UPS; H&R Block; and Hallmark.

Stanley Spencer, manager at Kerns Bros. Beer Distribution, said the fire happened at the worst time of year.

“Christmas and New Years is our busiest,” Spencer said.

Spencer said he does not know if the fire damaged the beer distributor located at the end of the shopping center. He said perhaps the business suffered smoke damage.

Utilities to the shopping center have been turned off. The parking lot is closed.

A state police deputy fire marshal is expected to arrive at the shopping center later today to determine the cause of the fire.

 

Fire fighters were called to Dallas Shopping Center late Monday night after a fire broke out on the roof of the shopping center. Crews worked to control the blaze by tearing down ceiling tiles from the walkway.