Bridgeport community rallying around business, residents after Labor Day fire
BRIDGEPORT, Pa. (WPVI) -- A Montgomery County business and the people who lived above it are working to recover and rebuild after a fire on Labor Day.
The multi-alarm fire broke out at PA Imports Auto Sales, located along the 1000 block of DeKalb Street, around 5 p.m. Monday.
Officials say the fire started in the used car dealership and then spread to a boat and car.
Shaf Rahman, the owner of the dealership, said his business was closed for the holiday, but he was in his office doing paperwork.
"Next thing you know, I check the camera and see smoke," he told Action News. "And I get out of the office and see all these people out in the street saying, 'Get out! Get out, there's a fire!'"
READ MORE | Woman hospitalized after multi-alarm fire at Montgomery County car dealership
Chopper 6 was overhead as dozens of fire crews responded to the scene to extinguish the flames. Down below, Rahman watched his dealership burn.
"I was numb, and my primary concern was our neighbors who live upstairs," Rahman explained. "I wasn't worried about the business. Things like this come and go. The main thing is that everyone is safe."
Action News has learned one of the people who lived above the business is 62-year-old Marlene Hagaman. She and her husband had to escape from their apartment as flames consumed the building on Monday evening.
Hagaman works at Bridgeport Ribhouse, which is located across the street from the dealership.
Melissa Navitsky, the owner of Bridgeport Ribhouse, told Action News, "Marlene works for us, and she lives in the apartment right here. I was calling her, and I ran across the street as I was calling her. She and her husband, Mark, were sitting on the sidewalk outside the building."
"She has third-degree burns to the bottom of her feet. She's in the Temple burn unit right now," Navitsky added.
As Hagaman recovers, Navitsky is now planning to hold a benefit for her and her husband. She's also created an Amazon wishlist that is circulating around the community.
"Things are being marked off the wishlist left and right. People are calling, asking what they can do," she said. "As soon as she's out of the hospital, we're going to have a benefit to help them get started on their new journey."
Steve Wilson, the owner of Wilson's Secret Sauce in Upper Darby, is also working to help those affected by the fire. He was visiting Bridgeport Ribhouse when the flames broke out on Monday.
He is now organizing an effort in his community to help those who lost everything.
"People can donate money if they have it, or clothes, just things that will take some of that burden off of them. That's what we wanna do. We want to help other people."
If anyone is interested in donating, they can contact Navitsky and Wilson at their respective businesses.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
