BREAKING NEWS–Fire destroys former General Industries building.
Bruce Bishop | The Chronicle-Telegram
**Check out the latest videos section to see fire consume the former General Industries building ****
As of 11 a.m. Thursday, roughly 600 residents as well as Ridge Tool remain without power after it was shut down at 3:45 a.m. because the lines ran near the flaming building. An Ohio Edison spokesman said he didn’t know when the power could be restored as crews remained at the scene of the building.
The fire, which was reported at 1:40 a.m., sent showers of flaming ash onto nearby buildings and flames shot hundreds of feet into the air as the three-story brick walls collapsed and tumbled into the streets.
Acting fire Chief Joe Pronesti said when firefighters got the call, the fire already was burning too hot to send his men inside. Instead, he sent out a call for help from area departments – as many as eight other departments were on scene to help – and they battled from the outside, trying to contain as well as extinguish the blaze.
Pronesti said there wasn’t enough water pressure, which prompted him to call on neighboring departments with the ability to shuttle water.
No one was injured.
Pronesti said he’s been worried about a fire in the nearly vacant factory for years. The vast complex of building stretches for three blocks.
“I pass this building every day and size it up,” Pronesti said.
About 25 police officers were called in to work to control traffic and crowds, said police Chief Michael Medders.
Mayor Bill Grace showed up at the scene, too.
“We’re thankful the departments in the area are available and offered their help,” he said.
Nineteen families took refuge at
Firefighters said the fire broke out in the dock area, the same place a fire was extinguished last Thursday.
General Industries moved out of its brick factory years ago and just a small portion of the building is now used by J-Tech, a composite molder employing about 10 people making sinks, tubs and other items
At the time of last week’s fire, Assistant Fire Chief Glenn Saddler warned a J-Tech employee to be “really careful” disassembling the dock because of all the combustible material.
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 Filed by Bruce Bishop | The Chronicle-Telegram July 3rd, 2008 in Top Stories. Popularity: 37% |
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Comments
Comment from
Darksky
July 3, 2008, 9:10 am
should be interesting to get the final word on the cause of the fire. Absolutely horrible……
Comment from
aterryw
July 3, 2008, 9:23 am
Well I’m sure someone is going to blame the Mayor …. Wonder what type of spin its going to be?
Comment from
fes9651
July 3, 2008, 12:37 pm
My dad was a maintenance man for General Industries. It was so sad to read this story and watch the video of the factory burning down, the factory that he maintained for decades and the business that put food on our table, paid for me to go to college, etc. Like my dad, I imagine many of the General Industries longtime employees have passed away. But I have nice memories of the friends he had there and the annual picnics at Chippewa Lake. The bar across the street from the factory had a great fish fry.
Comment from
Jack Miller
July 3, 2008, 1:56 pm
Okay, I’ll bite. The mayor did it! No spin, just matches and gas.
Comment from
Lovinglife4me
July 3, 2008, 2:54 pm
One could say that the closest fire station would have been the one on Broad street that is CLOSED!!!! Happy now aterryw?
Comment from
xaven15
July 3, 2008, 3:23 pm
Im sure someone is trying to get some insurance money on this one.. Not a coincidence that they had to put out a fire last week at the same place…
Comment from
maerd
July 3, 2008, 3:54 pm
If Mayor Grace had not been in office this fire would never have happened.
Comment from
ctReader
July 3, 2008, 6:10 pm
How about this one for blaming the mayor….
It’s ridiculous that fire departments in other cities had to go to Elyria and assist, all because that cities mayor made cut’s to the fire department and then have cities from Cuyahoga cover the cities in Lorain County, all because the mayor made cuts.
Actually I think it was a pretty bad fire and it makes good neighbors when everyone pitches in and helps, something you don’t see much of these days
Comment from
Lovinglife4me
July 3, 2008, 7:07 pm
I think if we were fully staffed with firemen left over we would have needed help with this one. Why was there no water pressure is what I’m wondering?
Comment from
formerresident
July 3, 2008, 11:22 pm
The water pressure issue is a good question, why isn’t the fire hydrants being maintained? And why are combustibles not being properly stored? Who is in charge of making sure these are right?
Comment from
justsaying
July 3, 2008, 11:34 pm
Probably the same people that are suppose to make sure the roads are kept up ……..
Comment from
aterryw
July 25, 2008, 10:42 am
as far as the fire station on broad street being closed, not worried about the “businesses” just the home in that area…. Prospect….. University ave,…… Cornell…etc…
Comment from
johnbear
July 25, 2008, 11:32 am
July 25th, 2011, entire department from the one station in the entire city standing by smoldering pile of bricks at the former General Industries Plant. Mayor Grace ok’s overtime for the firewatch and asks for tax increase to pay the bill!
Comment from
aterryw
July 25, 2008, 2:18 pm
so the Mayor/CITY should go after the owner of the building and Insurance company… for failure to maintain a safe building resulting in the use of overtime for the City Firefighters… to the cost of…$$$$$
Comment from
Lovinglife4me
July 25, 2008, 2:30 pm
It has already been stated the owner had no insurance.
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