New Castle building burns

Staff report

NEW castle, pa.

A major fire caused extensive damage to a commercial structure in downtown New Castle on Sunday night, according to a dispatcher at the Lawrence County Emergency 911 Center.

A resident called the 911 center at 8:06 p.m. Sunday to report the structure fire at 102 E. Washington St. When New Castle firefighters responded moments later, the building was fully engulfed. It then collapsed, the dispatcher said.

New Castle firefighters called firefighters from the Shenango and Union fire departments to help battle the blaze, the dispatcher said.

The structure was vacant at the time of the fire, and a cause had not been determined as of late Sunday as firefighters were still working to get the fire under control.

The building appears to be a total loss.