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Garage fire destroys GTO, vintage 'Stang
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Larry Deklinski/Staff Photo Burned out vehicles and tools are seen inside the remains of Keefer's Garage on Bear Valley Avenue (Route 125) in Shamokin after fire ripped through the structure on Friday. Alfons Keefer, owner of the garage, believes wires from a battery terminal may have over heated and started the fire.
Larry Deklinski/Staff Photo Mark Keefer looks at damage inside his father's garage on Bear Valley Avenue (Route 125) in Shamokin after fire ripped through the structure on Friday. Alfons Keefer, owner of the garage, believes wires from a battery terminal may have over heated and started the fire.
SHAMOKIN - Alfons Keefer and his family stood between two burned vehicles as they surveyed the damage of the garage Saturday afternoon. Inside the collapsed building, the shells of vehicles and barely-recognizable tools remained.
"The funny thing is, we were here just 15 to 20 minutes before the fire started," said Keefer. "My buddy called me and said he thought my place was on fire."
State police fire Marshal Norm Fedder said an investigation is continuting into the cause of the blaze.
According to Keefer, the fire destroyed two loaders, three Trans Ams, a rollback, a Pontiac Grand Prix, a Chevrolet Cavalier, a 1964 1/2 Ford Mustang and a 1968 Pontiac GTO. Also destroyed in the blaze were numerous tools Keefer used to work on the cars. He puts the damage at nearly $500,000.
"There's tools all over the place, it will take me a week to figure it out," said Keefer.
Keefer said he is insured, but wants to talk to his insurance provider before he decides if he will rebuild.
Keefer believes the fire may have started when two wires from a battery terminal, connected to his rollback, touched and over heated.
The fire was first reported by two Mount Carmel residents traveling past the building shortly before 10 p.m. Jason Hollenbach and Pete Bridy said they first noticed haze in the streets and stopped to investigate.
"I looked at him and I said, 'I think that building is on fire,'" said Hollenbach. "I backed it (car) up and a garage door just opened up and the next thing you know, it was in flames."
Hollenbach said the door opened as if someone had pushed a button. The open door revealed a fully involved fire. The brother-in-laws said the fire was too intense for them to go inside to look for anyone.
"I went over near the front of the building and I looked in there and I yelled, 'Is anyone in here?'" said Bridy. "I didn't hear nobody, so I back off because it started going up."
After calling 911, Hollenbach said he saw Keefer and his daughter running down the street - screaming and crying - asking Hollenbach and Bridy if they had called 911.
Minutes after the fire was reported, a portion of the wall fell onto Bear Valley Avenue. Pieces of cement blocks and roofing material still lay on the street Saturday.
Several loud explosions and fierce flames forced firefighters to stay outside the building and attack the blaze from the exterior. Several vehicles parked near the structure also caught fire, causing at least one explosion that sent sparks flying into the air.
Responding were Shamokin Fire Bureau, AREA Services, and fire police.
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