Former downtown sprinkler plant burns — again

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

The former Automatic Sprinkler Corp. building at Brittain and Jones streets was on fire Saturday morning for the third or fourth time in the last few weeks.

Battalion Chief Jim Drummond of Youngsgtown Fire Department said he could not state at this time that all the fires had been intentionally set, but added, “it keeps getting lit.”

The fire department elected to allow the site to burn this time because of the building’s condition after the previous fires, Drummond said.

“We’re taking a defensive approach and making sure none of the surrounding structures are damaged. We put the fire out the first time, but now because of the damage it’s not safe for us to go in,” he said.

The fire burned for several hours Saturday and the thick, black smoke could be seen from miles away.