The Harmar House banquet hall in Cheswick sustained heavy damage after a fire started inside the complex last night.
Flames broke out after 7 p.m. and damaged the main building. Owner Nick Futules says it's completely charred inside.
“The internal part of the building is charcoaled,” said Futules. “The banquet hall’s not as bad but the main building itself, they cut holes in the roof to get to the fires because they were hidden behind the walls of the place and everything’s completely black inside, it’s burned.”
Speaking on The Big K Morning Show, an emotional Futules said laundry is believed to be behind the fire.
“The fire Marshal, he told me that he feels that the laundry caught fire in the towels, it was internal combustion, in our kitchen,” Futules said, breaking down.
Futules was told there is $2 to 3 million of damage and he isn't sure if his insurance will cover it.
Nine residents in apartments there were also displaced and Futules says he has to find a new location for 40 banquets scheduled now through January.
He also says he feels bad for everyone in the area that used the Harmar House for their events and don’t have a place to hold their events anymore.
Futules would often host high school sports team’s banquets and only charge their food at cost so they could have a nice, affordable time.
The Harmar House was going to celebrate it's 25th anniverary next week.
Futules is also the District 7 Allegheny County Council representative.
Thanks to First Due Photography for the photos and video.