Pike Creek – An early morning fire destroyed the long abandoned Charcoal Pit and Pike Creek Bowling Center located in the 5100 block of Pike Creek Blvd., on Sunday.
Units from the Mill Creek Fire Department responded to the scene at 5:25 a.m. and found the building fully involved. Additional companies from Delaware and Pennsylvania were called in to assist with the blaze.
[espro-slider id=6986]
At around 11:45 a.m. this morning, residents from the area were out with their phones snapping photos of the still smoldering building. Within minutes the building reignited prompting the Fire Marshal, on scene, to call for units from the Mill Creek Fire Department to return to the scene.
As units worked to put out the remaining hot spots some residents reflected on the building history. Several that we talked to said they had eaten at the restaurant years ago but none could remember bowling at the Pike Creek Bowling Center.
A local couple Moxie and Ian said that they learned of the fire when a friend posted a photo online. Moxie added that the friend had held his wedding reception at the bowling alley years ago and was devastated by the fire.
The structure is a total loss and damage estimates are in excess of $500,000, said Robert Fox, Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal. No injuries were reported from the initial fire.
Fox said investigators are trying to determine how the fire started. Anyone with information is asked to contact the State Fire Marshal’s Office at 302-3fire.23-5375.