Damage too extensive to determine cause of Jeannette fire
Investigators can't determine the cause of a fire last month in downtown Jeannette because of the extent of damage, said city fire Chief Vance Phillips.
The fire on April 23 burned for hours, resulting in the collapse of the abandoned, three-story building at the intersection of Clay Avenue and Fifth Street, all of which were factors that made the cause impossible to figure out, Phillips said.
Meanwhile, Mangery & Sons of Penn has billed the city more than $60,000 for emergency demolition of the condemned building, according to city manager Michael Nestico.
“We don't want to have taxpayers footing the bill for that,” he said. “We want to try to have the property owner held responsible.”
Crews worked for 18 hours on April 24, starting at 3 a.m., and between eight and 10 hours the next five days, Nestico said. The work was suspended once the “emergency nature” ended, he said.
The company erected a fence around the site, where thousands of bricks remain strewn about at ground level and in the basement pit. Much of the debris has been hauled away. West Penn Power replaced utility poles Thursday.
The property is owned by late businessman Frank Trigona under his Rufus Corp. When Trigona died in August, he owned several vacant properties in the city. A few of those in the same block have “for sale” signs in the windows.
Rufus Corp. owes about $50,000 in delinquent taxes on the corner lot dating to 2009, according to the county tax claim bureau. The parcel is in the judicial sale process.
It's unclear if the building, which once housed a dollar store and duck pin bowling alley, was insured.
“The ... city continues to investigate what options exist regarding potential collection of the expenditures,” said solicitor Scott Avolio.
City officials are looking into several options, among them filing a lien against the property for the $60,000 bill or acquiring a judgment that would allow Jeannette to take ownership.
“They're investigating what options would facilitate redevelopment and investment in that site, which has to be our goal,” Avolio said. “Otherwise, it's a big void in the business district.”
In the meantime, the fire site will remain as-is until an investigation determines what cost-effective avenues the city could take to get the remainder of the debris removed, Avolio said.
The void on Clay Avenue could expand as owners of the adjacent building are waiting for a determination from their insurance company.
That building — it housed a hair salon, motorcycle clubhouse and tax preparation agency — sustained fire, smoke, water and structural damage.
The city's code enforcement officer has deemed it unfit for occupancy.
Renatta Signorini is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach her at 724-837-5374 or rsignorini@tribweb.com.
