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Blaze damages businesses

Cause of brush fire under investigation

Mirror photo by Gary M. Baranec / Altoona firefighters respond to a fire at the Community Resources For Independence office along Pleasant Valley Boulevard on Friday afternoon. Nobody was injured in the fire.

Mirror photo by Gary M. Baranec / Altoona firefighters respond to a fire at the Community Resources For Independence office along Pleasant Valley Boulevard on Friday afternoon. Nobody was injured in the fire.

A fire at a Pleasant Valley Boulevard shopping strip damaged nearby businesses and left a row of bushes ablaze Friday as shoppers and employees gathered to watch.

Lakemont Fire Chief Robert Bard said responders were first called to a brush fire alongside the Community Resources for Independence office at 3305 Pleasant Valley Blvd. The organization provides services and activities for people with disabilities.

No one was injured in the fire, Bard said. By 2:30 p.m., flames appeared to have spread, consuming a row of bushes separating the Up-Front Shoppes business building from the nearby Olive Garden. Fire licked from the roof, prompting firefighters to climb atop the building and tear away pieces to douse the flames.

Bard said responders couldn’t immediately identify the fire’s cause. Employees at nearby businesses fled as smoke filled the center and spread across the Pleasant Valley Shopping Center parking lot.

Onlookers gathered and recorded the scene with cellphones as police and emergency medical technicians surrounded the building.

“We found out by smelling it,” said Sheri Gray, an employee at Woody’s II hoagie shop at the building’s other end. “There’s smoke damage throughout the whole place.”

Gray said it wasn’t clear how long the restaurant would have to remain closed. Firefighters met with employees from the small strip, which also contains a Boost Mobile shop. An empty office space, open for lease, appeared to be damaged in the blaze, as well.

Bard said firefighters from Newburg, Lakemont, Greenwood, Logan Town­ship and Duncansville responded to the scene.

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