MONESSEN - There has been no immediate determination of the cause of a fire that destroyed a vacant building on Donner Avenue Monday night.
Municipal Fire Chief Tim Billick said Tuesday that a visit from a State Police fire marshal did not come up with a cause.
"Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshall Steve Thompson conducted his initial investigation at the scene of the fire on Tuesday," Billick said in a statement. "Trooper Thompson has not ruled on the cause of the fire, and for now has said the cause of the fire is undetermined, with the investigation ongoing."
The building, located at 445 Donner Ave., is owned by Thomas Marinkovich, of Beaver, and was being used by Tony Mascetta, of Charleroi, for storage and office space.
The alarm for the fire came in at 8:20 p.m. and several fire companies battled the blaze into the night.
Firefighters used three snorkels from Monessen, Charleroi and Carroll Township in an effort to extinguish the blaze.
A neighboring business, C. Coates Communications, 447 Donner Ave., suffered extensive water and smoke damage and possible structural damage.
On Tuesday, the area of the fire was cordoned off as the smell of the fire from the previous night was prevalent. The city's business incubator, which is located at 335 Donner Ave., and includes the office of State Rep. R. Ted Harhai, was not affected by the fire.
A small vacant lot separates the incubator and the building that burned.
The city currently is investigating three unsolved fires, according to Mayor Anthony Petaccia. Petaccia said that in recent weeks fires at the former Mary's Grill, as well as blazes on Motheral Avenue and Maple Avenue, have not been solved, he said.
