Arson ruled out as cause of Burghill fire

BURGHILL -- Arson has been eliminated as the cause of a Thursday night blaze at a car and boat storage facility that caused a reported $1 million in damage.
Fire destroyed the building, 30 vehicles and 15 watercraft inside Kerfoot Boat and Car Storage, 4962 state Route 7.
Frank D'Alesio, resident agent in charge of the Youngstown office of the U.S. Treasury Department's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, said Friday afternoon that arson was not the cause.
"It wasn't set or staged," D'Alesio said, noting that an accelerant couldn't be detected. "It's not a criminal investigation. It's probably accidental."
Burghill-Vernon Volunteer Fire Department was called to the scene about 7 p.m. A fire official said the one-story building was engulfed in flames when they arrived. Nine other departments were called to assist.
Owner Angelena Kerfoot said the building that once served as a poultry barn for 10,000 birds was insured.
However, Kerfoot said she doesn't know if the contents, including classic and high-priced cars, were covered by their owners.