Inlow’s gutted by fire
Eatery likely a total loss
In this image from the Geeseytown Fire Company’s Facebook page, fire crews battle an early morning blaze at Inlow’s Drive-In in Duncansville. Courtesy photo
Workers from Werstil Companies board up Inlow’s Drive-In along Inlows Road in Duncansville Monday afternoon after the early morning fire. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski
In this image from the Geeseytown Fire Company’s Facebook page, fire crews battle an early morning blaze at Inlow’s Drive-In in Duncansville. Courtesy photo
Workers from Werstil Companies board up Inlow’s Drive-In along Inlows Road in Duncansville Monday afternoon after the early morning fire. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski
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DUNCANSVILLE -- An investigation is underway after longtime community staple -- Inlow's Drive-In -- was likely destroyed by an early Wednesday morning fire.
Allegheny Township Fire Department Deputy Chief Todd Glunt said when firefights arrived, the corner of the restaurant was completely involved.
He said that the building is probably a complete loss but that determination would be up to the fire marshal and the insurance company.
"We're just waiting for the fire marshal to do his investigation, however long that will take, and he'll let them know the cause if he finds one," Glunt said.
It took the fire crews about an hour and 45 minutes to bring the blaze under control, he said, adding that they didn't leave the scene until about 4:45 a.m.
No one was hurt.
Area residents flocked to the scene throughout the day and took to social media to lament the loss of a 75-year-old Blair County landmark.
Duncansville native Michele Hoover took a photo of the burnt-out restaurant and said that her mother used to take her there all the time as a child.
"This place was awesome; it really was," Hoover said. "The people who worked here were awesome; they were the best people you'd ever meet."
Hoover said she used to go to Inlow's with her husband and that it was always packed on Sundays.
"That flips me out that this happened," Hoover said. "It's very sad. I called my twin brother up in California to tell him, and he just said, 'You're kidding.' We're in disbelief."
Barb Bollman of Imler said it was crazy to think about.
"My parents took us there, we took our kids, and they took their kids," Bollman said. "My son took his grandkids as well."
Local restaurant owners also expressed their sadness over losing one of their own.
33 on Mac owner Nicole Burchfield said that it is a huge loss for the community.
"I feel like as a kid -- and I'm sure I'm not the only one -- I would always go there with my parents and grandparents," Burchfield said. "It wasn't just going and eating, you were going and hanging out with everyone you knew."
Burchfield said that when she thought of Inlow's, she would think of her grandfather, who has since passed away.
"It's definitely a part of everyone's memory," Burchfield said.
The owner of Coffee on 3rd said in a Facebook post that Inlow's was a family tradition.
"I remember skipping school with my dad and sisters and going there for breakfast," the post said.
The owner of Peggy's Diner also took to Facebook, saying how awful it was to have a fire "destroy a historical place."
"When I was young, my dad took us there for the famous 12 inch hotdogs," the post said.
The Allegheny Township Fire Department was joined on scene by Geeseytown, Phoenix, Duncansville, Lakemont, Freedom Township, Martinsburg, Greenwood, Blue Knob, Cresson and Lilly fire departments and AMED.
The owner of Inlow's could not be reached for comment.
Mirror Staff Writer Rachel Foor is at 814-946-7458.