ORWELL — As environmental cleanup continued Thursday in the aftermath of the Wednesday night fire at Orwell Tire Service, state fire investigators and Orwell Fire Chief Joe Albergo worked to determine the cause .
There was extensive fire damage to the landmark building at 431E. Main St. (Route 322). Neither Albergo nor a representative of Kauffman Tire Co. of Atlanta, would speculate on the monetary damages. KTC leases the property from Robert Jones, an Aurora businessman.
Jerry Ross, KTC construction project manager, was at the scene Thursday afternoon. Asked if the tire firm would rebuild with the property owner, Ross replied: “I can’t answer that. It will be up to the corporate people.”
Dan Rose, of Aurora, said he has owned the building and the 2.2-acre site under his company, MMAT LLC. He purchased it from former owners Lee and Toni Covell of Orwell.
The structure was built in the early 1920s as a milk-hauling company. Prior Cartage Co., the milk haulers, later turned the building into Prior Ford dealership. During the 1940s the owners had a tire retread business.
“I would hope we can rebuild as I have a large investment here,” Rose said. “I lease the building and property to Kauffman Tire officials.”
Twelve area fire departments from Geauga, Trumbull and Ashtabula counties responded for mutual aid, with mostly tankers. Firefighters formed a water shuttle operation with Bristol Fire Department in charge. During the fire, traffic was rerouted around Route 322 by the Orwell Police Department.
“We stayed on the scene until 2 a.m. Thursday. We haven’t determined a cause yet and are still investigating. It was still smoldering in the morning when we came back here,” Albergo said.
Because of environmental concerns, two Cleveland-based site cleanup companies, Inland Waters of Ohio and Clean Harbors, were called in to do the job, the chief said. The front part of the structure, which houses offices, retail customer areas and a garage, were destroyed by the blaze.
Cleanup crews using front-end loaders hauled out piles of burned tires, some with steel rims on them. Other workers used vacuum hoses to soak up the oil, water and other residue and debris coming out of the burned-out section.
Albergo said acetylene tanks blew up inside the front part as firefighters battled the blazing inferno. Company manager Fred Williams said a firewall and steel doors saved the rear two-story building, which was used to store tires.
Williams on Wednesday night planned to resume limited service for commercial customers Thursday. Because of the cleanup, only road-service employees reportedly were working. Several drivers stopped at the site Thursday afternoon to watch the cleanup.
Albergo said he and state fire marshal’s office investigators will determine when the company can reopen.
“There will be more cleanup needed. The company was not able to reopen today (Thursday). It may be a few days,” the chief said.
Service calls from farms and commercial customers are being rerouted to the Ravenna store, said Williams.
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