When the fire call reported the alarm late Tuesday near Exkursion, it struck a chord in Monroeville.

Exkursion, the outdoor outfitters and the most visible outlet in the 22 Park & Shop plaza on business Route 22, was nearly destroyed by an arsonist 11 years ago. But it wasn't ablaze this time.

Fire destroyed at least three other businesses in a nearby building housing six shops in the plaza. Two others sustained heavy smoke damage, and a physical therapy center in the row is believed to have been damaged.

Flames worked their way across the entire roof that covers the six separate businesses.

Allegheny County Chief Deputy Fire Marshal Don Brucker, who is investigating the cause of the fire, said yesterday afternoon that it was too early to determine the cause or origin of the two-alarm blaze.

One firefighter was hospitalized with a broken leg when he was struck by a vehicle.

Another suffered smoke inhalation, and a third had a cut on his face. Those two were treated at the scene.

The six businesses are situated in a building set back from the 4000 block of Business Route 22. The building is flanked on one side by a strip of businesses that include the Penn Monroe tavern, and on the other by the building housing Exkursion and others.

The plaza is near the Jonnet Building in Monroeville.

The fire, reported just before midnight, already was burning in the roof over Jack's Tuxedo rentals, the East Oriental food store and Jae's tailors and cleaners when firefighters arrived.

It was spreading toward the NY Hair Design and East of Hollywood movies and collectibles when it was brought under control.

The facade of the remaining business, pt Group Physical Therapy center seemed the only one of the six that still was intact yesterday.

The scene was about to be cleared around 4 a.m., but some of the rubble rekindled and had to be extinguished. Firefighters remained at the scene until after sunrise.

Fred Gunter, owner of Exkursion, said the call alarmed him and his wife, because they still are jittery about the fire 11 years ago.

That fire was ruled arson, but no one ever was convicted of the charge.