SHARON

Imperial fire is ruled an accident

The fire began just after 6 p.m. behind a washing machine in the laundry room of the building at 1131 E. State St., Scarmack said. State police trooper Eric Weller, acting state fire marshall, made the ruling. "I can’t say specifically what caused it," Weller said, adding it was a "combination of things" but not an electrical fire.

Weller said the cause of the fire is not suspicious. He said Imperial’s insurance company hasn’t been out to the site yet.

The fire caused an estimated $1.5 million in damage to the washers and dryers, the roof and smoke damage throughout the building. It didn’t damage any of the clothes there, a store employee said Monday afternoon.

Owner Rick Stein was too busy repairing the damage to discuss the fire, the employee said.

It was the fourth fire to strike the business since 1974. Imperial was damaged by arson fires in 1987 and 1995.