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FIRE AT ALAMO FLEA MARKET UNDER INVESTIGATION 

 A fire that broke out at the Alamo Flea Market Tuesday afternoon is under investigation.

According to the Alamo Fire Chief, Roy Contreras, the fire started between 2-2:30 p.m. and multiple departments responded to the scene including Donna, Pharr, Edcouch-Elsa and San Juan fire departments, along with Hidalgo County Fire Marshal and Hidalgo County Emergency Management Services.

It wasn’t until 5:30 p.m. where Contreras reported that the fire was under control.

However, it is still unclear what caused the fire.

“It started in one business and then it spread out to about nine, ten other businesses,” said Contreras.

Contreras said one woman was transported to the hospital with minor burns.

CBS 4 spoke with Nancy Ortiz of Edinburg who sells merchandise at the flea market and said the fire started near her neighbor’s stall who sells clothing.

“I saw fire at my neighbor’s place so, I ran and helped her,” said Ortiz. “I made calls and we only thought to help her.”

Ortiz recalled seeing people running and calling for help, but now fears that she has lost all her merchandise.

Vendors will not be allowed inside the flea market until authorities complete the investigation, but Contreras expects the venue to be back in business by this weekend.

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LONG TIME SATURDAY FLEA MARKET TO CLOSE

Saturday’s Market, one of the largest and longest-running flea markets in Pennsylvania, is reportedly going to close the end of November.

The market, located on Harrisburg Pike in Londonderry Township between Middletown and Elizabethtown, opened in 1957 as the Big M, the Middletown Merchandise Mart.

Owner Rodman Rose – the market had been founded by his father – died in May 2018.

Social media chatter about the closing was spurred Tuesday in part by KT Media, a vendor, which posted news of a letter sent out by JSDC Law Firm on behalf of the property owners that the market would be closing Nov. 30 and that all items needed to be removed by Dec. 1.

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