Storage / Warehouse, Warehouse Ontelaunee, PA – Sprinkler system keeps fire in Ashley Furniture warehouse from spreading February 20, 2018 viking210 A two-alarm fire occurred last Thursday night at a warehouse for Ashley Furniture in Ontelaunee Township . Crews were dispatched about 7:20 p.m. to the first block of Ashley Way for the report of an automatic fire alarm. Leesport Fire Chief Kenneth Quell said employees were evacuating the large building when firefighters arrived and were directed to an area where they were told that the sprinkler system had been activated. Quell said firefighters encountered smoke in the building and discovered a small fire contained within a three-level rack system that holds finished furniture in the warehouse. Quell said firefighters knocked down the fire within minutes and had it under control within 30 minutes. “The fire itself didn’t envelop a very big area,” Quell said. “The sprinklers contained it and kept it from spreading.” About 50 firefighters responded, Quell said. There were no reports of injuries to employees or firefighters. Ashley employees re-entered the building to help remove excess water on the floor from the sprinkler system, Quell said. A state police fire marshal was called to help in the investigation, Quell said. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was called out after the investigation was started, he said. Quell said the cause of the fire is under investigation.
