OLD FORGE, LACKAWANNA CO. (WOLF) — Fire crews responded to a third-alarm fire Sunday evening at the vacant former Ray’s ShurSave supermarket on Lawrence Street in Old Forge.
The first alarm was dispatched at 6:03 p.m. for a report of smoke coming from the building. Old Forge police arrived and found multiple fires inside, along with a container of accelerant near one of them, according to information provided by responders.
The call was upgraded to a second alarm at 6:27 p.m. and a third alarm at 6:44 p.m. Firefighters from Lackawanna and Luzerne counties responded. Old Forge and Duryea Excelsior firefighters used large-area search ropes attached to fire trucks to help crews inside the building find their way back out.
Lawrence Street was closed at West Grace Street during the response. Crews began clearing the scene after about two hours.
Ray’s ShurSave closed in 2018, and the building has been vacant since. Old Forge police and the Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal are investigating.
Aerial image courtesy Chris Dolan Fire Photos