Charges pending in Montrose fire

Personnel on ladder trucks from United Fire Co., Montrose, and Meshoppen Fire Co., use lights Sunday to determine if any hot spots were in a downtown barn that had caught fire after flames had spread from a nearby trailer box. Traffic was tied up on downtown streets in Montrose for about three hours. STAFF PHOTO/ROBERT BAKER

BY ROBERT L. BAKER and STACI WILSON

Charges are pending against four juveniles believed to have started a fire Sunday afternoon in downtown Montrose that had traffic tied up for about three hours.

United Fire Co. Chief Preston Sprout said that around 5 p.m. he had been downtown and noticed a tractor trailer box on fire behind Montrose Publishing Company, South Main St.

The county was notified and United responded to the scene where flames had moved to a second structure – a vacant barn structure used for storage.

Six additional fire companies responded to the scene, including ladder units from Meshoppen and Clifford fire departments as well as crews and equipment from Snake Creek, Rush, Hallstead and Springville. Montrose Minute Men and Harford Ambulance were also on scene.

Sprout said the fire was under control around 7 p.m., while ladder crews were still checking for hot spots in the vacant building.

Montrose Police Chief Dale Smith said officers interviewed the juveniles on Sunday and the youths were released to their parents.

Smith said Tuesday morning that charges would likely be filed Wednesday.

No injuries were reported.

A State Poice fire marshal was called in, Sunday, to investigate.

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