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Officials disagree on Do-Cut fire’s cause
By Elise Franco
Canfield
The state Fire Marshal’s office and Cardinal Joint Fire District disagree on the cause of the fire that destroyed Do-Cut True Value Hardware.
Local fire department investigators said Tuesday that the September fire that devastated the Canfield business was accidental.
Cardinal Joint Fire District Chief Don Hutchison issued a news release stating that the Sept. 14 fire was caused by an “electrical defect in an outlet or adaptor.”
The fire originated in the store’s paint and hardware section, according to the news release, and it wasn’t able to determine why the electrical component failed.
Shane Cartmill, public-information officer with the Division of State Fire Marshal, said they disagree with the results and are ruling the fire “undetermined.”
“There simply is not enough evidence available at this time to prove the fire was accidental or criminal,” he said. “By ruling the fire undetermined, investigators have the opportunity to further examine the case should new information be provided to investigators or if additional evidence is later discovered.”
Dante Terzigni, Do-Cut owner, couldn’t be reached to comment Tuesday afternoon.
Hutchison said he stands by his department’s investigation and is satisfied with the results.
“We were there for three weeks. We’ve been there working since day one,” he said. “We have not spoken with anyone from the fire marshal’s office.”
The four-week-long investigation, conducted by the fire district and an independent investigator hired by the business’ insurance company, was completed Oct. 19 after on-scene investigating that included witness interviews, sample testing and sorting through fire debris, the news release said.
Hutchison said the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency now will have to approve demolition of the structure.
The store, at 6442 S. Raccoon Road, was in Canfield for more than 30 years. It was a total loss, but Terzigni said previously that he planned to rebuild.
Do-Cut’s sister store at 3375 Youngstown Road in Warren is open and will handle customers’ needs.