The city gave an update on the fire aftermath Tuesday afternoon.
Local and state authorities might never be able to say for sure what caused the Sunday fire that destroyed local businesses and residences.
The State of Ohio Fire Marshal’s Office has completed its scene investigation, which has not yielded a cause, officials said. But the authorities did figure out for sure that the fire started behind the building that houses Kismet, a clothing boutique at 16 W. Union St.
“They got what they needed to do here done,” said Ron Lucas, Athens’ deputy service safety director. He said the fire marshal’s office, in its continuing effort to determine a cause, will test samples from the fire.
Lindsey Burnworth, a spokeswoman for the fire marshal, said investigation is still ongoing and that there is “no specific timeline” on when it will be complete.
Robert Rymer, Athens’ fire chief, has previously said that cold temperatures, rain and snow that have hung over Union during the past couple days could make determining the cause difficult.
Cpt. Ralph Harvey of the Athens Police Department said the longer a state investigation stays open, the longer it will take for insurance agencies to process damages.
{{tncms-asset app="editorial" id="1b32cb42-6e1e-11e4-a361-e3f42c37acee"}}
Jon Paszke, director of the Athens City Office of Code Enforcement, said there is currently no reason to believe the businesses are at fault for starting the fire.
Paszke, whose office is responsible for investigating whether the buildings are still structurally sound, along with Athens’ fire and public works departments, added that his “office, at this point, is going to be very active.”
{{tncms-asset app="editorial" id="c45507ea-6e09-11e4-92d5-739a001c86d3"}}
Reopening will be easier for some businesses than others
Several businesses — Kismet, Smoke Zone Smoke Shop, Jack Neal Floral and a real estate office that was formerly the Campus Sundry — sustained heavy damaged.
The owners of those businesses and tenants that lived above them will not be allowed in their properties until structural engineers and insurance adjusters assess the damage the fire caused at 12, 14 and 16 W. Union St.
In addition, The Public House section of Jackie O’s Pub & Brewery, 20 W. Union St.; Uptown Dog T-shirt shop, 10 W. Union St.; and The Union Bar & Grill, 18 W. Union St., will remain closed indefinitely.
{{tncms-asset app="editorial" id="f808ebb0-6e09-11e4-813c-0b7911152cec"}}
The most unstable of buildings on the block must be assessed before others, officials said.
Kismet’s roof collapsed and Eric Gunn, the owner of The Union, said his bar was “a total loss” yesterday.
The buildings affected were built before 1900, officials said, but the auditors office doesn’t keep records before that year, so it could not provide exact dates.
Still, many properties have recently been remodeled.
Athens County Auditor Jill Thompson noted that both the business owner and the owner of the building have to agree to get businesses back in these spaces.
Thompson also said that building owners can file for a destroyed building notice to receive a tax break this year.
The hot spots in these structures were completely extinguished by 4 p.m. Monday. At that time, firefighters left the scene, Lucas said.
The state of things now
Doorways of the affected businesses are boarded up.
Parts of West Union Street remain closed to traffic.
Police tape and steel barriers kept people back from the scene while other businesses on the block, like Goodfella’s and Whit’s, are open.
Today, 19 Ohio University students have been permanently displaced by the fire from the apartments above 12, 14 and 16 W. Union St, said Stephanie Filson, an OU spokeswoman. And 24 other students who were evacuated have been cleared to return to their apartments on the block, though not all will stay there permanently, she added.
OU has provided housing for seven students in on-campus residence halls for free, Filson said, while others remain in hotels or with friends.
Harvey noted that one of the longer aspects of the aftermath will be assessing what possessions residents lost in the fire, especially if they lacked renter’s insurance or are not covered by their parents’ homeowner’s insurance plan.
“Usually it’s a more expensive policy for parents’ insurance to cover their kids’ laptops or belongings, if they prove that they bought it,” Harvey said. “Sometimes, the plan still doesn’t cover it.”
The university has spent about $7,000 of donated money — given to OU before the fire for emergencies — on Wal-Mart gift cards, meal plans and other amenities to help students.
The university does not need any more physical donations “just because we have so many,” Filson said. “I don’t want to say OU is covering every cost of everything students need ... A lot of donations have come in different ways.”
— Emily Bohatch and Emma Ockerman contributed to this story
@willdrabold
dd195710@ohio.edu
