Cause of equipment-shed fire remains unknown

EAST PALESTINE -- The cause of a fire that heavily damaged an equipment shed at the Kentak Products Co., 795 E. Martin St., remains undetermined.
Fire Chief Brett Todd said he is trying to determine if the three-sided pole building was serviced by electricity and whether an electrical problem started the fire.
He said the building is insured by the owners and the contents are insured by the renters.
The company rented the 75-by-30-foot building to Donald Parker and Mark Beight. The men stored hay and farm equipment in the shed.
Todd said that about half of the building was involved in the fire and that farm machinery received some heat damage.
The fire was labor-intensive for firefighters because of the 1,000 bales of hay, Todd said. Firefighters were called to the scene at 5:43 p.m. Monday by employees of a neighboring company.
About 23 firefighters were on the scene until around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday. Todd and others returned about 3 a.m. when some of the hay rekindled.
There were no injuries.
Todd said when hay is involved, firefighters have to spread it out and hose it down. If not for the hay, firefighters would probably have extinguished the blaze in about 20 minutes, Todd said.