UNION CITY, Pa. - Schools in Union City are closing early because of a loss of power and water as crews battle a huge fire at a former furniture factory nearby.

The Erie Times-News says the fire was reported at about 11:40 a.m. Thursday and the back of the multistory building was destroyed as of early afternoon. There were no reports of injuries.

Firefighters were having trouble fighting the fire because of the intense heat. Crews were dousing nearby homes with water to prevent the fire from spreading.

A division of Ethan Allen Interiors Inc. had occupied the 210,000-square-foot building until the summer of 2003.

A woman who runs a shop in the building tells the Erie Times-News that there were retail stores in the building. Tammy Steenrod also says the building's owner lives in the building but got out safely.

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Information from: Erie Times-News, http://www.goerie.com

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