No one was injured in a fire that broke out at a business Saturday afternoon in Palmerton.

Borough fire Chief Jason Behler said firefighters were dispatched at 4:09 p.m. to Heaven & Earth Inn (formerly the Rusty Nail Inn) at 939 Mauch Chunk Road.

“When we first arrived on scene, there was a smoke condition on the back side of the dwelling that had a back porch area on the back of the second floor,” Behler said. “That’s where the smoke was coming from.”

Behler said when the call came in, no one knew if there was anyone inside, so firefighters had search the business to make sure there was no one inside.

He said there was someone there that had called that was at the property and reported the fire, and added there were no injuries.

Behler said it took about seven minutes to knock the fire down.

“We used water and foam to make sure it was quenched to make sure it wasn’t reigniting,” he said. “We did have to go inside and make sure there was no extension, other than normal inspection holes to make sure the fire didn’t get into the wall to travel.”

Behler said the fire was under control at 4:34 p.m.

“All of the damage was done to the exterior,” he said. “There was no other damage to the inside of the building.”

Behler said the cause of the fire has not been determined.

“It was a very windy day, high winds, the storm was coming through,” he said. “There was 18 mph winds with gusts up to 26 mph, which just helped accelerate the fire quickly.”

Behler said the fire is “basically ruled as undetermined, (and) had presumed potential (that) it could have been an unintended ashtray or cigarette.”

“There appeared to be a melted ashtray on the floor, and assuming based on the weather conditions at the time of the fire, we surmised the ashtray may have blown down from a railing,” he said. “Between that and the wind, presumably ignited; it was hard to pinpoint.”

Behler said assisting at the scene were the Aquashicola Fire Department, Bowmanstown Fire Department, Walnutport RIT, and Palmerton Ambulance.

“I just want to thank all of the mutual aid departments and the Palmerton Fire Department for a quick response,” he said. “I believe our first engine was on scene (within) five minutes, which was phenomenal.”

Behler added that the Palmerton Fire Department alone had 17 members respond.

“It was a very strong showing,” he said. “The department is growing.”