March 20, 1999
Water Street fire investigation continues
By Jefferson Wolfe
Staff Writer
Fire officials say it will be next week before the investigation of a fire that destroyed a vacant Water Street building is completed.
Deputy Fire Chief Ed Schwab said investigators from the Tiffin Fire Department, the state fire marshal's office and insurance companies have been sifting through the wreckage of the former Tiffin Wagon Works building.
Eight fire departments were called for the Tuesday afternoon fire, which destroyed the 126-year-old building.
The cause has not been determined.
All firefighters cleared the Wagon Works building about 6 p.m. Thursday, Schwab said. Investigators have ramianed, gathering material on what remains of the second floor.
''They've actually taken a number of items out of there they want to look at,'' he said.
Some of the unsupported walls have been removed, Schwab said, starting near Harrison Street, which will remain closed during the weekend. Work was started to make it as safe as possible for Harrison Street residents, he said.
''We'll have to leave Harrison Street and the end of Minerva Street blocked over the weekend,'' Schwab said. ''We really wanted to get that open.''
It appears the overall investigation will not be complete until at least Tuesday. The insurance investigator has a specific area to examine, but it appears work crews will not have that area safe until then, he said.
Work stopped at 5 p.m. Friday, and will not resume until Monday, he said. It is likely the street will re-open then, he said.
''Monday, we're hoping to get the wall over Seneca Sheet Metal. It's causing safety issues at the plant,'' Schwab said.
The plant opened Thursday, but fire officials restricted workers from using part of the building.
''We're trying to move on it so they can get going,'' Schwab said.
Safety has been important throughout the investigation, and Schwab cautioned the public to stay away from the site.
''We hope people are smart enough to stay out of there, because they could get hurt,'' he said. ''Any walls that are still up are unstable.''
When a wall falls, derbis typically travels a distance at least two times as high as the wall, Schwab said.