Property Owner Claims Fire Started Over Lease Dispute
-
Firefighters battle a blaze at a Westerville Road commercial fire. NBC 4
-
Firefighters battle a blaze at a Westerville Road commercial fire. NBC 4
-
Firefighters battle a blaze at a Westerville Road commercial fire. NBC 4
-
Officials investigate a fire at a Westerville Road commercial fire. NBC 4
-
Officials investigate a fire at a Westerville Road commercial fire. NBC 4
Alternative content
Suspicious Commercial Fire
Local businesses go up in flames, and officials say the fire is suspicious.
NBC 4
UPDATE: Fire investigators say a large commercial fire is suspicious and the building likely is a complete loss.
MIFFLIN TOWNSHIP, Ohio—Fire officials ruled a large commercial fire as suspicious and said the Westerville Road building likely is a total loss.
NBC 4 gives you the FAST FACTS.
The report of a fire at 3296 Westerville Rd. was dispatched at about 4 a.m. Monday. A passing Franklin County sheriff’s deputy saw the flames and reported it to dispatch.
Fire crews found the Northeast Side building’s front portion heavily involved upon arrival.
The roof of the building showed signs of collapse, and firefighters were forced to take a defensive approach to the blaze.
“As the fire progressed and conditions worsened, the roofing conditions weakened a little bit. We had to pull them out and move to a defensive operation,” Mifflin Township Deputy Fire Chief Fred Kauser said.
At one point, the incident was reported as a two-alarm fire. It later was lowered to one-alarm.
Crews had the fire back in control by 6 a.m. and contained by 7 a.m.
Fire investigators were called to the scene and ruled the fire as suspicious, but the cause of the fire remained undetermined currently.
Mifflin Township fire officials said the fire appears suspicious in part because the amount of fire in the front portion of the building when crews arrived.
Fire officials said evidence of an accelerant was found at the scene. Any evidence was to be sent to state labs for testing.
“This is a pretty high-traffic area. Even at 4 a.m. in the morning, there is still some traffic here. It’s just suspicious to have that much fire volume when the first fire company arrives,” Kauser said.
The building housed several businesses, including a restaurant, a bookstore and a mosque in the rear.
Mohammed Adam manages the property.
“You can see it’s total loss,” Adam said.
Adam said he believes the fire had to do with a two-month-long lease dispute between Adam and several former mosque volunteers.
“Immediately what comes to mind is that there is someone behind this,” Adam said.
The Mifflin Township deputy fire chief said the building likely will be a complete loss with hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage.
The Division of State Fire Marshal and ATF also were called to the scene.
Authorities closed Westerville Road or state Route 3 northbound and southbound lanes at Innis Road while crews investigated the fire.
The road was reopened to traffic shortly after 8 a.m.
There were no civilian or firefighter injuries reported.
INTERACTIVE LOCATION MAP
For additional local news and information, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com—Where Accuracy Matters.
To submit a story idea or news tip, e-mail
.
MORE: NBC 4 Local News | Local Crime News
NBC 4 SPORTS: Sports News, Video
NBC 4 POLITICS: Headlines, Interactives & Video
Advertisement
Reader Reactions
So there was a miscommunication in the story. Did it take away from the main point? Did it somehow ruin the article for you?
These reporters work on multiple stories and, occasionally, mistakes will happen. You comment that this is a news agency, so why are you calling this out in the public forum? Don’t you think an email to the reporter or to NBC4 would be more appropriate?
I digress. I drove by this building often and the area always seems to have a high amount of traffic. If it was deliberate, someone had to see something.
Dear fire3006,
I believe it’s about being accountable. Perhaps you are not in a position to be held accountable for your actions?
In my journalism class, I was taught to dig for - and state - all the important facts pertaining to an article that I wrote. Keep it short and to the point, use attention grabbing headlines and dramatic adjectives all while being factual and thorough.
This isn’t a police blotter, It’s a News Agency that staffs actual reporters who supposedly were journalism majors…
You people make me laugh at how critical you are in regards to an article. If you get your info somewhere else then be done with it. Constantly slamming the writers? Get a life.
Dear Amanda,
If you know the address of the business, how is it that you do NOT know which business or businesses are located at that address?
According to Channel 10TV, the building housed a bookstore and a tax service.
Thank you.
Advertisement