High winds, an open floor plan and heavy timber construction joined forces to create a blaze that destroyed the Buckeye Tavern, 3741 N. Brookside Road, according to Lower Macungie Township Fire Chief David J. Nosal.

Winds clocked at 8 mph to 10 mph, with gusts in the low 20s, fed the fire, Nosal said.

"Windy days are not beneficial to firefighting," he said.

The restaurant, built in the 18th century, of heavy timber and various other woods, featured an open floor plan allowing the fire to quickly spread.

As a result, the fire "intensified and increased in size very rapidly," Nosal said by telephone May 13.

Nosal was on the scene until about 4 a.m. May 13. The fire was reported mid-evening May 12.

Lower Macungie Fire Marshal George Caldarelli said May 13, at the scene, the investigation was in early stages.

State Police Fire Marshal Michael Booke, in a report sent May 19, stated the fire "originated at the rear of the building in the vicinity of several commercial freezers.

"The origin and cause of the fire is currently under active investigation by the Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal Unit. The investigation is continuing."

Firefighters from Alburtis, Emmaus, Macungie, Old Zionsville, Trexlertown, Vera Cruz, Lower and Upper Ma-cungie townships and the Woodlawn cascade unit responded to the fire.

City of Allentown firefighters were on hand as a rapid intervention team to help firefighters at the scene. Nosal said approximately 75 firefighters responded to the scene.

Firefighters knocked down the fire in about an hour, Nosal said. The chances of flare ups and fire burning beneath collapsed sections of the building kept a truck and personnel from Lower Macungie at the fire scene until about 10 a.m. May 13.

Nosal described the strategy used to battle the blaze as a "defensive attack" meaning firefighters did not enter the structure.

"We surround it and hit it with water," Nosal said of the strategy.

Firefighters connected hoses from three hyrdants, including on the property of Bethany Church and another at Eyer Middle School, an effort requiring 2,300 feet of supply hose, Nosal said.

Lower Macungie Township firefighters used equipment capable of putting 1,000 gallons a minute of water on a fire.

However, Nosal said, maintaining a supply of such an amount of water is a challenge.

Fire trucks cannot carry water in such amounts to a fire scene so hydrants are necessary and hose must be run to those hydrants, often requiring fire hose be placed in the street, a time consuming process.

"Copious amounts of water applied consistently and constantly" were required to tackle the blaze, Nosal continued.

No firefighters, restaurant patrons or employees were hurt.