Fire ruins N. Huntingdon restaurant

Patrons and employees at North Huntingdon Township restaurant had to flee a fire Tuesday night that destroyed the Route 30 business.

An estimated 40 customers and employees escaped injury after flames suddenly broke out at the Tomato Patch at 13760 Lincoln Highway, near the Allegheny County border. An estimate of the loss was not available last night.

The cause of the fire, which was reported at 7:29 p.m., was not immediately known, but Hartford Heights Fire Chief Paul Cella said he will request an investigation by a state police fire marshal.

When firefighters arrived on the scene, Cella said the flames had broken through the roof.

Owner Joseph Juricich Jr. watched from a rear parking lot as firefighters poured water on his burning business. Juricich declined to comment on whether he intends to rebuild. The business opened in January 1998 and was the former site of Charlie J's restaurant.

One of the waitresses working at the time of the fire, Heather Lee of North Huntingdon, said she smelled smoke and thought pizza was burning.

Several children were in the restaurant participating in a promotion to make their own pizza.

Then, Lee said a customer came into the restaurant and said the roof was on fire. She said she called 911 before fleeing with the rest of the employees and patrons.

The head chef on duty, Eric Cumpston of North Huntingdon, said he went outside and saw the roof in flames. When he went back inside to turn off the kitchen appliances, 'within a matter of two minutes ... the interior was engulfed in smoke.'

Cumpston said he had to put a towel around his face to protect himself. The smoke might have been worse inside had it not been for exhaust fans, he said.

The manager, John Law, said he heard someone say the building was on fire.

'It just happened way too fast,' Law said.

Cella was upset that the firefighters' initially were hampered trying to hook up a pumper truck to the nearest hydrant, located at a Sheetz convenience store next door.

He said the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County was asked four months ago to reposition the hydrant.

Cella said firefighters were forced to lay a hose from a hydrant on Carpenter Lane, about 1,000 feet from Route 30, and from another hydrant about 800 feet away.

Firefighters lost several crucial minutes in trying to battle the blaze, he said.

Police closed both eastbound lanes of Route 30 for at least an hour. One eastbound lane was opened around 9 p.m.

Firefighters remained on the scene until about 11:30 p.m. Hartford Heights was assisted by units from throughout the township.