Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, along with other state and local officials, addresses the Broad Street Market fire at a press conference on Monday.
On Monday, local and state officials vowed that the Broad Street market would be rebuilt following a destructive fire overnight.
Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, along with other local officials, pledged to support the market’s many vendors and restore the historic building, at a press conference.
“Overnight, the heart of our community was taken from us,” Williams said. “Today is not the end of the Broad Street Market. We will rebuild it.”
At about 1 a.m. on Monday, the Harrisburg Fire Bureau responded to reports of smoke coming from the market’s brick building. Flames engulfed the building, causing severe damage to the roof and, specifically, the side of the building closest to N. 6th Street. The fire took several hours to contain, fire officials said.
According to Fire Bureau Chief Brian Enterline, the fire was caused by an electrical malfunction of a large ceiling fan, installed in 2017, in the building. The building did not have a sprinkler system.
Inside the side of the Broad Street Market’s brick building, nearest N. 6th Street.
According to Enterline, the building’s shell is salvageable and the historic architecture of the building can be maintained. Much of the interior portion of the building near the market courtyard is salvageable, as well, largely suffering smoke and water damage, fire officials stated.
The Broad Street Market is covered under Harrisburg’s insurance, city Business Administrator Dan Hartman told TheBurg, saying he had “no worry at all” that the damage would be covered. Vendors in the market are required to have their own insurance, as well.
Shapiro also vowed to assist the city in rebuilding the market, offering possible state grant or loan opportunities. The commonwealth is coordinating with the PA Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and the PA Department of Agriculture to find ways to assist vendors displaced by the fire, he said.
“This market matters; it’s mattered for more than a century,” he said. “You’re going to see government at all levels now work together. We are all now going to come together and do what’s necessary to support the rebuild.”
Inside the market’s brick building, nearest the market courtyard.
Earlier on Monday, market vendors and city residents gathered outside the market to support each other and worked to collect their property from inside the building.
According to Harrisburg officials, the city will work to find a temporary location for market vendors to set up shop while the building is restored.
The market’s stone building was untouched by the fire and will be open for business this week, Enterline said.
Gov. Josh Shapiro (left) and Harrisburg Fire Chief Brian Enterline tour the burned market building.
The Fire Bureau will now work to secure and seal the building after vendors have had the chance to retrieve any property, according to Deputy Chief Michael Souder. The bureau has no concern of the building collapsing or causing a public safety threat, he said.
While local officials are hopeful about the future of the Broad Street Market, they recognize that rebuilding won’t be a quick process.
“Make no mistake, this will take time and, of course, tears, but the end result will be worth it,” Williams said. “The Broad Street Market will be back and better than ever before.”
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