Ravenna, Ohio, January 12, 2007--In spite of a major fire early Thursday morning at the building housing the Franklin Mills Rug Co. the business will continue to remain open, according to the Record-Courier.
"Everything was pretty much contained to the showroom. We lost no inventory which was in a warehouse in the same building," said business owner Daniel Wolcott.
"We are not going to shut down. We will muddle through it. Obviously the showroom will have to be rebuilt but we will still be working," he said.
He said he delivered a few samples Thursday and that his telephone is still active.
The walls to the showroom were built of concrete blocks and clay tile, Wolcott said.
The cause of the fire was undetermined and remains under investigation. The dollar amount of the damage has not yet been determined.
The two-story building may be considered a total loss after an official investigation is completed, fire officials said Thursday. The building, located on the south side of S.R. 59 near the Wall Street intersection, dates to the 1930s.
A total of 15 fire departments worked after the 1 a.m. call Thursday to battle the fire.
Ravenna Township Assistant Fire Chief Timothy Morgan said a caller reported heavy smoke coming from the first floor.
Although the fire was confined to the first floor, there was substantial smoke and heat damage on the second floor, he said.
Residents who live in the four upstairs apartments had evacuated the building prior to the fire department's arrival. Two were evaluated on scene for possible smoke inhalation, Morgan said.
The American Red Cross was contacted to assist the apartment residents with clothing and shelter.
Mutual aid was provided to the Ravenna Township fire department by Ravenna City, Kent, Streetsboro, Aurora, Mantua, Brimfield, Rootstown, Brady Lake, Tallmadge, Twinsburg, Charlestown, Edinburg, Randolph and Suffield fire departments, with Community Ambulance providing EMS coverage for other areas of Ravenna Township.
Firefighters cleared the scene at approximately 4 a.m. One firefighter sustained a minor injury after he slipped on ice-covered ground. The firefighter was treated at Robinson Memorial Hospital and released, Morgan said.
