YORK COUNTY, Pa. — Crews from Manchester Township Fire Department and surrounding areas spent Monday morning monitoring hotspots at Mr. Q's Family Skate Center on the first block of N. Fayette St. in West Manchester Township.
On Sunday, Jan. 16, around 7:10 p.m., at least 40 firefighters were dispatched to the skating rink after reports of a fire.
"It was scary to watch," said Michelle Lenhart, a witness who lives near the rink. "I've never seen a fire like that so fast."
West Manchester Township Fire Department said no one was inside the building when the fire started since staff left two hours before it started.
Firefighters said that, due to size of the rink, crews faced a challenge getting inside.
Battling the flames during Sunday's severe weather was also no easy task. As the wind grew stronger, the building's roof collapsed, concerning nearby residents.
"I started to worry that the walls...were going to go, and we could actually feel the heat from the flames," said Kenny Lenhart, a West Manchester Township resident.
For some people in the area, going to the rink was a tradition.
"It was like a childhood to some people," said 12-year-old Nariah Jacobs. "Most people came there since they were three. I met my friends here, I met my best friends here."
Manchester Township Fire Department said the cause of the fire is still unknown, and the estimated cost in damages is at least $1 million.