Tuesday, March 09, 1999
Cause of factory fire suspect
Cops see no link to gangs
BY MARIE McCAIN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
LOCKLAND — The weekend blaze that gutted a 79-year-old portion of the old paper factory owned by New York-based American Tissue Mills of Ohio Inc. is suspect, authorities said Monday.
However, they stopped short of calling the fire arson, preferring to hold off on an official determination until their investigation is complete.
Lockland Police Patrolman Todd Ober, an arson investigator, said the fire appeared to originate in a central area of the one-story structure, located about a block from the intersection of Lock Street and South Cooper Avenue.
There was no evidence an accelerant was used, he said, adding that the building housed security and maintenance offices.
It was not known when the fire started, but it is thought to have smoldered overnight before firefighters were called about 9:30 a.m. Sunday.
Police and village officials denounced published reports blaming the fire on gang-related activities.
“That is absolutely not true,” said Police Chief Kenneth Johnson. He said there are no organized gangs in Lockland and while the building may have had graffiti spray-painted on its exterior, the graffiti is not gang-oriented.
“That stuff has been there for months, maybe years,” Patrolman Ober said.
Exactly how the blaze affects the potential use of the otherwise vacant property is uncertain. American Tissue officials, who took ownership of the property 11 years ago, could not be reached for com ment Monday.
Company officials had said they planned to redevelop the plant, but it has remained vacant and undeveloped, its condition deteriorating.
In October, village council approved a plan to obtain the former Fox Paper plant as part of a larger initiative to eliminate blight from the village.
Village Administrator Evonne Kovach said Sunday's fire hasn't deterred the village in its bid to take over the property from the New York-based owner.
If anything, she said, the fire underscores why the village needs to acquire the property. “In it its current state, it invites this kind of thing,” she said, adding that the village hopes to gain the property though eminent domain.
The plant was being appraised before the fire, but its value had not been determined, Ms. Kovach said.
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