Bauerstown VFD Assists with Early Morning Commercial Fire at Ross Park Mall

Photo by Bauerstown VFDFirefighters cut through concrete and debris to access hidden fire beneath the mall floor.

Photo by Bauerstown VFDMembers of Bauerstown VFD pose following extended operations at the commercial fire scene.

Photo by Bauerstown VFDCrews deploy hose lines and specialized equipment inside Ross Park Mall during suppression efforts.

Photo by Bauerstown VFDFlames are visible beneath the concrete slab as firefighters expose and extinguish fire in void spaces.
February 8, 2026 – At approximately 4:15 a.m., units were dispatched to the 247 box for a reported fire inside Ross Park Mall, located beneath a section of concrete flooring where contractors had been working. First-arriving crews discovered active fire from an undetermined source in the affected area. The 259 Engine crew assisted with opening the floor and conducting suppression efforts alongside multiple interior crews, while DQL secured electrical utilities to the mall to ensure scene safety. As operations progressed and contractors utilized heavy equipment to create larger access points, firefighters determined the fire had spread laterally through open void spaces beneath the concrete slab. Crews spent several hours cutting through concrete and rebar while checking adjacent stores near the entrance to prevent further extension. Elevated carbon monoxide levels throughout the affected areas required the response of specialized ventilation trucks at the request of command (247CHF) to reduce hazardous conditions. Firefighters worked diligently for more than six hours to contain and extinguish the labor-intensive blaze. Command of the incident was held by 247 Chief.