20,000 pounds of chocolate lost in fire at Pa. factory

Associated Press

CANONSBURG, Pa.

An official says a fire at a landmark southwestern Pennsylvania candy factory destroyed nearly 20,000 pounds of chocolate.

The 6:30 a.m. Friday blaze struck a second-floor packaging area at Sarris Candies in Canonsburg in Washington County.

Plant manager Dennis Sroka told The (Washington) Observer-Reporter on Saturday that a health inspection determined that Sarris must destroy the candy, which either melted or had smoke damage.

Canonsburg Mayor David Rhome said officials will inspect the damage Monday, but the blaze does not appear to be suspicious.

Sroka said Monday’s inspection also will determine whether another 5,000 pounds of chocolate packaged for sale in the store will also have to be destroyed.

But he said most of the company’s stock survived because it is stored in an off-site warehouse.