SPRINGFIELD — UPDATE @ 9:30 a.m.:
Firefighters are expected to remain at the scene of a Springfield building fire through the afternoon to continue to extinguish hot spots, according to investigators.
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The fire broke out at the S&D Pallets facility around 1 a.m. Thursday, a building that was over a century old and formerly housed the Hoppes Manufacturing Company.
Investigators said there had been previous fire code violations at the facility, however the building was up to code during their last inspection at the end of 2019.
A demolition crew was requested to help remove parts of the building so firefighters could continue to extinguish hot spots. Crews estimate an additional six to eight hours of fire fighting will be needed before firefighters will be allowed to leave the scene.
The cause of the fire is unknown but investigators will try to pinpoint the origin of the blaze, despite the likelihood that evidence has been destroyed.
No injuries were reported.
Crews are here to demolish the building so fire crews can get to the hot spots. @whiotv pic.twitter.com/F2Y6i0wYGL
— Kayla Courvell (@KCourvellWHIO) June 11, 2020
FIRST REPORT:
Pallets that caught fire inside a former Springfield manufacturing building are being blamed for causing significant damage to the structure early Thursday morning, according to firefighters.
Firefighters remain on the scene of the former Hoppes Manufacturing Company in the 2100 block of Larch Street in Springfield after the fire was first reported around 1:20 a.m. Firefighters requested demolition crews to the scene so crews could continue to extinguish hot spots. Multiple walls of the building fell during the fire and the roof is almost completely gone, according to our crew on the scene.
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High winds were a factor in battling the blaze and also pushed flames and smoke towards homes near the building, firefighters told our crew on the scene. Most of the damage to the neighboring homes were melted and damaged siding.
Firefighters expect to be on the scene for additional hours today and will have a crew stationed on the scene in the event the fire rekindles.
No injuries have been reported.
We will continue to update this story with new information as it becomes available.
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