This might be the Speed Shop - on the front fender - Delano Township is a township in
Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania
93-year-old owner says he won't rebuild Trenton Speed Shop destroyed by fire
TRENTON — The 93-year-old owner doesn’t plan to rebuild after a massive fire destroyed the former Trenton Speed Shop in Delano Twp. on Monday afternoon.
Sitting on a side-by-side ATV near what was once one of three garage bays, owner John Leaswitch said Tuesday that his garage is a total loss.
Leaswitch said he built the 50-by-55-foot structure more than 60 years ago and since then has worked on more vehicles than he can count.
He said he was mowing the grass shortly before the fire and sat down to eat when he noticed smoke coming out not only from the top of the chimney, but also where the chimney cut through the roof.
“It didn’t look right,” Leaswitch said.
Shortly thereafter, he said, the entire inside of the garage was engulfed in flames.
Firefighters from Delano, Ryan Twp. and surrounding communities were called around 1:30 p.m. to 81 Trenton Road where, within minutes, they were met by a large, intense blaze.
Matt Morgan, captain with the Ryan Twp. Fire Company, said flames were shooting from the roof and all three bays.
“We knew the owner was out, so we fought the flames from the outside,” he said. “It wasn’t worth going in and getting anyone hurt.”
Morgan said state police fire marshal Trooper Joseph Hall of the Reading station determined the origin of the fire was in the area of a fireplace, though no exact cause has been determined.
Leaswitch agrees on the point of origin. He said the only other heating source was a waste oil burner that was not in operation.
Leaswitch had only been doing vehicle inspections and minor automotive work since retiring. He doesn’t plan to rebuild.
“I’m 93,” he said. “I’m buzzard bait.” 
A fire almost two years ago to the day — Monday, Oct. 9, 2020 — destroyed a large home on a property at 82 Trenton Road adjacent to the speed shop.
“I was here,” Leaswitch said. “I called that one in.”
Morgan said that large home at 82 Trenton Road was destroyed, displacing several people. Morgan said he believes no cause was determined because of the amount of damage.
In Monday’s fire and in the blaze two years ago, there were no firefighter injuries, Morgan said.
In addition to those from Delano and Ryan Twp., firefighters from Mahanoy City, Hometown and McAdoo responded, as did the Ryan Twp. Emergency Rescue Squad and a Rapid Intervention Team from the Englewood Fire Company in Butler Twp.
Morgan said to get additional water to battle the fire, tankers were called from Walker Twp., Shenandoah, Mahanoy City, Girardville and Hazle Twp.
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