Fire at Richlandtown Inn displaces 16, damages structure

May 23--The most important thing, said Richlandtown Inn owner Venanzio Poccia, is that no one was hurt after a fire early Tuesday ripped through the first floor of the Main Street restaurant and rooming house.

Sixteen tenants were displaced by the fire at the historic three-story building at 101 S. Main St., according to fire officials.

Poccia, who has owned the Bucks County inn for 18 years, said the focus now is making sure all the tenants have a place to stay until he can reopen the building. The Red Cross is providing shelter for several residents, he said.

The fire began about 12:10 a.m., with heavy smoke and flames at the front of the building. Several people were still in the building when firefighters arrived, said Richlandtown Assistant Chief Justin Sutton.

MATT COUGHLIN / THE MORNING CALL

The Richlandtown Inn on Tuesday, hours after a heavy fire broke out overnight.

The Richlandtown Inn on Tuesday, hours after a heavy fire broke out overnight. (MATT COUGHLIN / THE MORNING CALL)

Poccia said he was called about the time the fire was first discovered and drove to the site.

"Your restaurant is on fire, chef," Poccia quoted the tenant as saying. Poccia serves as the chef at the restaurant.

Fire and smoke damage was described as extensive. Several fire companies from Bucks and neighboring counties were on the scene.

"Nobody got hurt and I didn't lose everything," Poccia said. "I lost some things of sentimental value, but 50 years from now, what are they going to be worth? My daughter said, 'Dad, you can't take them to your grave with you.'"

Poccia said he is coordinating with his insurance company and the Red Cross to see what can be done about ensuring shelter for the residents.

The fire remains under investigation. Many of the windows and doors of the building have been boarded up.

The building at Main and Union streets dates to 1812, when it opened as a stagecoach stop, then called the Spread Eagle.

Poccia said there is smoke damage on the second and third floors and fire and water damage in the basement and the first floor. But the building is not a total loss, Poccia said, and any repairs that need to be done to reopen will be done.

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