October 3rd, 2024
On Thursday evening, July 26th, a large fire engulfed and destroyed the Tollbooth Antiques warehouse in Columbia, PA. At 8:30 p.m., over 50 firefighters rushed to the Chestnut and North Second Streets building which housed a mix of antiques, collectibles, furniture, and merchandise. The fire was visible from miles away. Black smoke was visible from as far as Hallam in York County and Manheim Township in Lancaster County. Firefighters from multiple counties including York and Lancaster, battled the three-alarm fire, securing water supplies and working to contain the blaze.
Rescuers fought the blaze for hours, but unfortunately, the fire caused extensive damage and led the 40,000-sq ft warehouse to collapse. Thankfully, no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The building reportedly did not have an automatic sprinkler system. The owner of Tollbooth Antiques expressed devastation over losing his family-owned business of over 20 years. The building held 50 vendors who also lost inventory, and employees are now out of a job. The vendors varied from clothing and wood furniture to collectibles. Despite the damage, the community came together and reopened business after only 12 days of the fire at a nearby 20,000-sq ft location.  
Risk Logic can assist business owners with similar occupancies and buildings affected by fires like this one. RLI assists property owners in identifying potential risks at their facilities and emphasizes the importance of safeguarding their buildings. Please contact RLI for more information on property loss prevention and installing automatic sprinklers.
