Corry, PA Paint Store Explosion, Mar 1970

FIVE FIREMEN DIE AS BLAZE HITS CORRY.

Corry, Pa. (UPI) -- Five volunteer firemen, including the son of the fire chief, were killed Sunday night and 27 persons were injured in a general alarm fire in this northwestern Pennsylvania city.
Police said the firemen were killed in an explosion at a paint store on North Center St., the main street of Corry, a small community about 30 miles southeast of Erie. Bystanders and firemen standing outside the store were injured by flying glass and debris.
The dead were identified as:
DAVID APPS, son of Corry Fire Chief Alfred Apps.
JON MILLER.
RICHARD BRIGHAM.
LAUREN SHREVE.
DENNIS ROCKAFELLOW.
All members of the Corry Volunteer Fire Department.
The injured were taken to Corry Memorial Hospital. Twelve were admitted in satisfactory condition.
Officials said the fire broke out shortly before 9:30 p.m. in a two-story building housing a Sherwin Williams paint store. The blaze spread to the Corry Savings and Loan Co. building and then to a building housing offices of the Ajax Iron Works. The paint store and the savings and loan firm were destroyed. The iron works offices were heavily damaged.
Cause of the fire was undetermined. No estimate of damage was disclosed.
Firemen from 13 surrounding communities fought the blaze for about five hours before getting it under control.

The Valley Independent Monessen Pennsylvania 1970-03-30

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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!