SCIO - Multiple fire departments responded to a five-alarm blaze that engulfed the roof of the Scio Pottery facility on Tuesday. Scio Fire Chief Roger Bethel said firefighters battled the flames for several hours. No one was hurt and the building was saved.
"It was partial in the building. It was a part of the building they don't use anymore," he said, adding that the cause was also known.
"It was an accidental fire," he said. "They were burning debris behind the building. It actually is what caused the fire."
Article Photos
Photo provided by MIKE?NOAH
Fire damaged a section of the Scio Pottery facility on Tuesday. No one was hurt and the damage left the remaining sections of the building operational.
Bethel said the initial call came in at 11 a.m.
"It was actually a really small fire when they got there," he said. "By the time they grabbed hose out the truck and turned around, the building was fully engulfed."
He noted the tar roof was a factor that accelerated the fire's spread.
Fire departments from Cadiz, Jewett, Bowerston, Uhrichsville, Hopedale, Tappan and Perrysville responded with aid. Bethel said the majority of the fire was extinguished around 2 p.m. with three more hours mopping up hot spots.
The operation was complicated slightly since the firefighters could not enter the structure.
"The structure was unsafe to enter. We did an outside attack on it," he said, adding that the ladder trucks made it easier to combat the blaze from above.
Bethel said the operational part did not effect any operational part of the building.
He added that the fire started with people burning pallets behind the structure. He said that on prior occasions he had recommended they not burn debris so close to the building.
The Scio Pottery dates back to the 1930s and was a major employer in town. It currently makes cement. A total of 20 employees were sent home on Monday. Work was expected to resume today after power is restored.
DeFrank can be reached at rdefrank@timesleaderonline.com
