Multiple businesses damaged in massive Latrobe shopping plaza fire

UNITY TOWNSHIP, Pa. (KDKA) -- Multiple businesses were heavily damaged by a massive overnight fire at the Latrobe 30 Shoppes in Westmoreland County.

WATCH: KDKA-TV's Mamie Bah reports

The fire broke out around 3:15 a.m. in the section of the strip mall that contains numerous stores including Goodwill, Harbor Freight Tools, Roadman's Country Living Shop, a tanning salon, My Fitness Kitchen, and others.

Lloydsville Volunteer Fire Chief Brian Schultheis said that it appears the fire started outside of Roadman's Country Living and spread to the outside of the business and along the overhang of the roof.

When firefighters arrived at the scene, the fire had spread between 75 to 100 feet across the front of the building with flames shooting 20 to 30 feet in the air.

Seven fire companies from Unity Township were dispatched to help battle the blaze in addition to others from outside the township who were brought in for assistance.

Two businesses were heavily damaged by the fire itself and the others in that section of the plaza were affected by water and smoke damage.  No one was injured during the fire.

Property manager Ralph Scalise said that the plaza is a community asset and described it as 'devastating' to see the fire and the damage.

"I think it's really devastating for the community," Scalise said. "Those shops, they did their thing for the community, that's for sure. I'm just beside myself."

After getting the fire under control, crews at the scene transitioned into cleanup with significant parts of the facade of the shops having crumbled and fallen down onto the sidewalk below.

The Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal is investigating what started the fire.

Stay with KDKA-TV and KDKA.com for more on this developing story and in our later newscasts.