Ruth Huggler | Democrat A FIRE BROKE out Saturday afternoon at the Countryside Stove and Chimney Company on Route 52 in Youngsville, the hamlet’s second major fire in as many weeks. Firefighters, above, begin dousing the building with water.

Youngsville business gutted by fire

By Laura Stabbert
YOUNGSVILLE — Last Saturday afternoon shortly after 3 p.m. Mark Schroeder was closing up his business, Countryside Stove and Chimney of Youngsville. He told neighbors later that he had been headed to meet with a customer when he realized he’d left something in the building.
Hearing an unusual loud pop when he flicked the light switch, Schroeder said he looked in at the wall and saw thick smoke spreading.
Calling emergency services from the scene, Schroeder was at a loss for words at what he saw, as the thick smoke soon turned to flames.
Arriving within minutes, Youngsville, White Sulphur Springs and Jeffersonville Fire departments worked together for several hours to contain the fire.
The building, which housed Countryside Stove and Chimney for the past 10 years, was nothing more than a pile of ashes by late Saturday evening.
Ironically, the stoves housed in the building for the business were not thought to be the cause of the fire, according to Schroeder’s wife, Janis.
Schroeder said he is still in business. Firefighters were able to recover his business records, and as soon as possible he will have a temporary display and office to work from until further arrangements can be made.
— Additional reporting by Ruth Huggler.