Glenwood plaza fire ruled arson
By Joe Gorman
YOUNGSTOWN
A fire early Sunday that damaged a plaza on the South Side was ruled an arson Monday.
Capt. Kurt Wright of the fire department’s Fire Investigation Unit said Monday the blaze was started in four sections of the plaza in the 2900 block of Glenwood Avenue.
Although it is hard to tell of any damage by just looking at the outside of the plaza, Wright said the entire building sustained heavy smoke damage and the roof also sustained heavy damage, with a portion near the back of the building caved in.
Fire investigators were done with the building by Monday afternoon and insurance adjusters were examining the ruins.
Wright did not have a damage estimate, but he said the building sustained heavy damage.
Two of the four places where the fire started were the day care and food pantry that were in the plaza, Wright said.
Wright said all the units in the plaza are connected by doors, which made it easier for the fire to spread.
Wright said crews who were called out about 2 a.m. Sunday did a good job of fighting the fire and keeping the entire building from becoming engulfed.
The building has one owner who rented it to four separate businesses, Wright said.
He said he already has spoken to the owner and is trying to speak to employees of the business to see who may have been the last person inside.
Because of the size of the building, Wright was assisted by investigators from the Boardman and Austintown fire departments Monday as well as investigators from the state fire marshal’s office. He said the determination the blaze was an arson did not take long once investigators figured out it started in several different places.
A reward is being offered for anyone who may have information on how the fire started.
Anyone with information is asked to call the FIU at 330-782-0055.