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Police: Fire at Unity Township Municipal Building ruled as arson

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UNITY TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Investigators said a fire that destroyed millions of dollars' worth of equipment in Unity Township has been ruled as arson.

Despite the devastating loss, township workers said it is business as usual.

No trespassing signs and road blocks line the perimeter of the Unity Township Public Works building that's barely left standing after it went up in flames one week ago in a fire Pennsylvania State Police are now calling arson.

"Words cannot really express how we feel," township supervisor Mike O'Barto said. "We're wondering how somebody could do such an act because it was so devastating to Unity Township."

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"Makes me sick," township supervisor John Mylant said. "We have almost 30,000 residents in Unity Township and that's the residents' safety you're messing with."

Mylant and two workers -- Scotty Morrison and Danny Bald -- ran into the burning building and saved nine pieces of equipment before flames and smoke overpowered them and scorched the equipment that was left inside.

Pennsylvania State Police said there's about $4 million to $5 million worth of damage. Township supervisors said they are moving forward, with help from the community.

"Because of the generosity of our neighbors, fellow municipalities, as far as Allegheny County, Westmoreland, Beaver, Indiana, we're able to borrow trucks to get us through the winter," O'Barto said.

"Makes ya feel good. It makes ya feel good to know there's a lot of municipalities, even residents, asking, 'What can I do?'" Mylant said.

In the meantime, as township supervisors work to figure out a more permanent solution for having a building, they said they're using a hangar at Arnold Palmer Airport to store some of their equipment, and some new trucks should hopefully be arriving by early next year.

 
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