Senior Services vans destroyed in fire

Damage has not affected transport operations

Transportation offered by Blair Senior Services was not affected by an early Sunday morning fire that destroyed six of the services' vans at its transportation center along Loop Road in Hollidaysburg.

"The fire has not affected our ability to operate," said President Steve Williamson. The fire, reported about 5:20 a.m., is deemed suspicious, he added.

The vans had been taken off the road and were in the process of being sold, he said. In addition, four other vans were damaged. Those, too, were out of service and in the process of being sold.

The vans were insured, though as the vehicles had reached the end of their "useful life" with Blair Senior Services, the value of the loss is not yet known.

The vans, described as small buses, were parked near the organization's garage, which houses an active fleet of 36 buses, a mechanics bay and a small office.

Williamson said he was notified immediately by 911 dispatchers when the fire was reported and he watched as firefighters poured water on the buses and building, successfully keeping the fire from spreading to the facility.

"The 911 folks and fire department folks were awesome," he said. Firefighters "were doing a tremendous job."

Since all the active buses are kept inside the garage, had the fire breached the building, it could have been devastating to the transportation services the organization provides to area residents.

Because the investigation is ongoing, Williamson said there isn't a lot he can say about the fire's origin.

"The circumstances were suspicious," he said.

Blair Senior Services rents ground from Blair County, he said, but the building is owned by the organization.

The site is partially surrounded by a chain-link fence and a locked gate prevents vehicles from entering the area. But, anyone could go around the fence, he said.

When asked about security at the site and if the fire would lead the county to erect more fencing, Chief Clerk and County Administrator Nicole M. Hemminger said the county is awaiting more information regarding the fire.

"That information would be helpful in determining what prevention measures would be appropriate," she said in an email.

Blair Senior Services is working with its insurance company, Williamson said, adding that he hopes at the very least the vehicles can be towed for scrap and Blair Senior Services won't have to pay to have the vans towed away.