Trindel’s IGA Foodliner Burns

On May 23, 1971 at 9:34 p.m. the local Civil Defense room alerted the Shippensburg Fire Department to a building fire at Trindel’s IGA Foodliner on the corner of East Orange Street and Hollar Avenue. When firemen arrived flames were coming through the roof on the Hollar Avenue side. Firefighters had the blaze under control within an hour and declared out at 12:30 a.m. Borough Fire Chief Ed Thrush said the storage area suffered heavy fire damage and the main store suffered extensive damage from heat and smoke. Firemen found the blaze difficult to fight because of the dense smoke and the false ceilings installed when the building was remodeled. The chief said the fire was “very suspicious in origin”. Damages were estimated at $150,000. One firefighter was injured and treated at Chambersburg Hospital and released.

At 2:40 a.m. Chief Thrush was making a routine check on the fire when he discovered it had rekindled. With the help of the fire policemen still on the scene they used a hose that was left connected to a hydrant on Hollar Avenue to extinguish the fire. Later in the afternoon the three fire companies again returned to the scene for a rekindle. The Vigilant Hose, Cumberland Valley Hose and West End Fire and Rescue companies battled the blaze.