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Fire Destroys Masontown Building and Livelihoods
Posted Wednesday, February 6, 2008 ; 06:13 PM | View Comments | Post Comment
Updated Wednesday, February 6, 2008; 06:42 PM


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The fire marshal says an electrical problem is to blame. Meanwhile the community is bonding together.

Story by Courtney Dunn


MASONTOWN -- "Everything is gone," said Margaret Bishoff.

"The apartment, part of that are burned, the rest are totally smoke damaged the beauty salon is under water and a lot of smoke damage."

That is what is left of the Masontown Florist and the Blow'n Away Hair and Tanning Salon, after a fire Tuesday night destroyed the buildings and the business that had been Bishoff's life for eight years.

"It's hard to explain," Bishoff said through tears, "it's like... it's my home, it's my livelihood... it's like you don't have anything...but you do I have my life."

Bishoff was in her apartment above the florist and the beauty shop when the fire alarms went off and she heard her daughter screaming.

Bishoff was trapped, unable to get down the stairs.

"I thought I could just hang out the window till somebody gets me," she said, "and that's when those young boys said, 'Margie you have to jump the fire is there'...and that's what I did."

Without hesitating, she jumped from this second floor window.

"Just...I had to get out of there," she said.

The building may be a total loss, but the businesses are not.

They plan to reopen next week in a new location donated by other Masontown business owners; something the Fire Chief says exemplifies what this community is all about.

"It's a small town, small community," said Chief Mike Lattrell of the Masontown Fire Department, "Everybody helps stick together, you know we all help each other."

Bishoff says they plan to reopen both businesses Monday.

One possible site is the Austin Powder Building, donated by the owners of Rainbow Tire, right across the street.

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