Fire that destroyed Coke Oven Cafe ruled an accident

A fire that destroyed a Uniontown bar Saturday night has been determined accidental.

City fire Chief Chuck Coldren said Monday that the 10:43 p.m. fire "totaled" the Coke Oven Cafe at 264 N. Gallatin Ave.

Firefighters found heavy smoke when they arrived, Coldren said.

No one was inside the building, which had closed about 10 p.m.

"We tried an interior attack, but we were making no headway," Coldren said.

Firefighters then attacked the blaze from the exterior, he said. They fought the fire until 3:30 a.m. Sunday.

The building had housed bars under numerous names for decades, Coldren said.

A bystander who fell ill was flown to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, W.Va., for further treatment after paramedics from the Uniontown Firemen's Ambulance treated him. His illness was unrelated to the fire, Coldren said.

Coldren was awaiting a report from a state police fire marshal, but he said the fire was accidental.

The owner has insurance, he said.