Two-alarm fire destroys Summit Twp. resident's home, businesses
(This story has been updated.) An Amish homeowner's residence and two businesses were destroyed Nov. 11 in a fast-moving fire that broke out that morning along the 200 block of Coke Oven Road in Summit Township, according to Mike Miller, chief of the Meyersdale Volunteer Fire Department. Firefighters from Meyersdale and multiple surrounding communities were dispatched at 9:19 a.m. to the structure fire call, which was elevated to a second alarm to bring additional water tankers and manpower to the scene. "There was a large amount of fire there when we arrived," Miller said. "The fire was way too far ahead to save anything. It was defensive from the get go." According to Somerset County 911's PulsePoint service, the initial dispatch brought in companies from Meyersdale, Salisbury, Garrett, Rockwood, Berlin and Wellersburg. The second alarm added tankers and personnel from Addison, New Centerville and Grantsville, along with another Maryland fire department called in to stand by at the Salisbury Fire Department, Miller said. The Amish homeowner resided on the second floor and operated a thrift shop upstairs, while a saw shop was located on the first floor, selling chain saws and similar equipment, Miller said. He added that the homeowner