Firefighters quickly put out Ford City blaze

FORD CITY — A smoky fire in an old factory building was quickly doused by firefighters.

The blaze started shortly before noon Thursday inside the Ford City Equipment Co. in the Mac Park industrial district area along Second Avenue next to the Allegheny River.

When fire crews arrived, heavy black smoke was pouring from the building, said Ford City Fire Department Assistant Chief Ray Klukan.

"We contained it to right here," said Klukan of a small space inside the factory where items such as wooden pallets, metal equipment and flammable liquids are stored.

The fire spread to the pallets and equipment and along a half-ceiling, burning materials in the ceiling's framework, according to firefighters.

Klukan said the property, used by former owner Dennis Tiche as an industrial salvage operation, was being torn down by crews for Tom Sipes Demolition for an owner who recently had bought it from Tiche.

"We think that workers tearing down the building — I don't know if they were using cutting torches — may have sparked it," said Klukan. "There was gasoline near it but we got it out of there in time."

An unidentified man was detained at the scene for reasons unrelated to the fire, according to borough police.

Police said the man was questioned in relation to an immigration issue and was cleared by federal immigration authorities and released into the custody of a second man. The two men were at the building to purchase materials, said a demolition worker.

Ford City, Manor and Ford Cliff fire departments and Kittanning companies 1, 4 and 6 responded to the fire.

The building, in about the same area, caught fire in July, 2007. Firefighters then responded to heavy smoke. That fire started in a disconnected air conditioner.

SSSD in Need of Upgrades

(Town of Lenox, NY – June 13, 2011) Repairs and upgrades are needed for the South Shore Sewer District. Supervisor Rocco DiVeronica said during the town’s regular board meeting, the village of Sylvan Beach will not do anymore repairs.

“They’ve been taking care of it all these years and now they are throwing it back at us,” DiVeronica said.

“There is something more or bigger going on here,” said Councilman Anthony Palamara.

“Replacement of generators and pumps, that’s what the big change is,” DiVeronica said. “The Wallards Development pump is so bad.”

The cost for a new pump and control box is $6,000. The new pump has been installed and they are waiting for the control box, he said.

“Can they hire contractors and [the district] pay for it?” asked Councilman Anthony Palamara.

“They want an agreement,” DiVeronica said.

“We need better communication,” Palamara said.

“How many times have we tried to get on the board?” DiVeronica asked him.

The pump that was replaced is 20 years old, DiVeronica said. The plan is to evaluate other pump stations within the district next year and replace aging or faulty equipment every year.

Other Business

Eric Haas, representative of the Wampsville Volunteer Fire Department asked the board the status on its request to help pave the parking lot by the firemen’s field.

DiVeronica said he called audit control and hasn’t received word back yet but would call again.

“If we don’t do the work on shared services then the contract [fee] is going to go up,” DiVeronica said.

The board agreed to raise the hourly rate of a new part-time highway department employee from $8 per hour to $9 per hour through the mowing season on the recommendation of Highway Superintendent Tony Cesario. DiVeronica said there is money in the budget and will cost an additional $300 to $400. The employee works three days a week, around 20 hours and receives no employee benefits.

A motion was entertained to transfer money to pay attorneys for the Amicus “Brief” regarding the Oneida Indian Land claim issue in the amount of $12,000.

In August of last year, the board passed a resolution to hire attorneys to prepare the Amicus Curiae in support of Madison County. At that time, the other 15 towns in Madison County and the city of Oneida were asked to “contribute” to legal services in support of the petition of a writ of certiorari that had been filed by Madison and Oneida counties in “Madison County, NY et al. v. Oneida Indian Nation of NY, US Supreme Court Case No. 10-72.

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