SHARON

Imperial damage tops $1 million, fire chief says

The fire at the dry cleaning plant at 1131 E. State St., was reported just after 6 p.m. and the business was closed.

Fire Chief Arthur A. Scarmack, Jr., said this morning the damage is estimated at $1.5 million, but that may be a conservative figure. He said washers and dryers were ruined and the roof must be replaced.

Scarmack said the fire was contained to the area where the washers and dryers are kept but smoke caused damage throughout the building.

Owner Rick Stein was unavailable for comment this morning but employee Debbie Hartsky said Imperial is open for business. She said people worked through the night to insure the business would be open today.

It is too early to say how or why the fire started or who or what may have caused it, Scarmack said. Stein said on Saturday that welders were working in the building before the fire began but so far there is no proof they were to blame for the fire, Scarmack said this morning.

State fire marshals will be investigating through at least Tuesday, Scarmack said, adding that an insurance company investigator was also at the plant.

The fire is the fourth to strike Imperial since a 1974 blaze that caused more than $100,000 in damage. In March 1987, an explosion and fire -- caused by rags soaked in a flammable liquid and left in a washing machine -- destroyed Imperial and the adjacent Sharon Floral Shop. An arson fire in 1995 also damaged the building.