Pottsville Fire Chief James Misstishin Sr. said the damage from the fire at 444 N. Claude A. Lord in Pottsville is “going to be a high dollar amount.”

He said it would probably be more than $1 million. State Police Fire Marshal John Burns is going to investigate along with Misstishin because it is a commercial fire. A cause has not been determined.

“It’s extensive fire damage to the whole building,” he said, although he said the fire was contained to three of the six businesses, an insurance company, vape shop and music store.

The rest of the building, a tattoo shop, daycare, second floor business and apartment, had heat, smoke and water damage.

Misstishin was alerted at 6:28 a.m. A whole commercial fire alarm system was not in the building because it had not been required by codes at the time, he said. He did hear smoke alarms going off.

Route 61 was closed for a time, but is now open.

The fire was declared under control by 8:37 a.m.

Two tenants in the upstairs apartment, Richard Ratta and his son Anthony Ratta, were displaced, according to Patty Daley, disaster responder with The American Red Cross. She said emergency personnel alerted them to the fire by banging on their door. The tenants, who were not injured, were provided food, clothing and shelter. They do not have renters insurance.

Misstishin said the owner of the building has insurance, but he does not know how many of the tenants have renters insurance. No injuries were reported.

Misstishin said the fire prompted a full department response from Pottsville and assistance by probably 15 fire companies throughout Schuylkill County. A Berks County fire company was alerted for coverage for Schuylkill Haven but did not respond to the fire, he said.