Firefighters work to put out a fire at the historic Broad Street Market.
The brick building of Harrisburg’s historic Broad Street Market has been heavily damaged by fire, gutting a large section of the 150-year-old structure.
At about 1 a.m. on Monday, the Harrisburg Fire Bureau responded to reports of smoke emitting from the circa-1870s building. Awhile later, the fire went to a second alarm.
The fire was contained to the brick building, which contains most of the market’s fresh produce and grocery vendors. The market’s original circa-1863 stone building, which sits across a large courtyard, was undamaged.
The Broad Street Market was devastated by an early-morning fire.
Julia James, who lives nearby and whose organic grocery business, Radish & Rye, started in the Broad Street Market, was in disbelief as she stood across the street, watching fire quickly consume the structure.
“This is simply devastating,” she said. “I’m truly at a loss for words.”
Harrisburg Fire Chief Brian Enterline said that the rear of the building suffered the worst damage, with the roof caving in. However, the entire structure had substantial smoke and water damage, he said.
Enterline could not immediately state a cause of the fire, though he added that he might have more information later in the day.
“We have initial indications, but we have more work to do before we can say for certain,” he said.
Besides Harrisburg, several other area fire companies responded to and fought the fire, which was brought under control in about an hour.
Overall, the Broad Street Market, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has over 40 vendors, a mixture of grocery and prepared food vendors. About 25 of those vendors have stands in the brick building.
According to eyewitnesses, the fire appeared to start at the rear of the brick building in the area that suffered the greatest damage, then quickly spread in a westerly direction towards the courtyard area.
The gutted rear of the brick building of the Broad Street Market.
One vendor, who asked not be named, said that she was awakened by sirens screaming past her house. When she looked down the street, she saw lights from the many emergency vehicles and smelled smoke. She then quickly dressed and ran to the building.
“I just couldn’t believe it,” she said. “I think my business is gone. I don’t know what is going to happen from here.”
The Broad Street Market is owned by the city and operated by an independent nonprofit. The market claims to be the oldest continuously operated market house in the country.
TheBurg will update this story as more information becomes available.
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