Tuesday, January 11, 2000
Fire delays Mason post office opening
BY DAVID ECK
Enquirer Contributor
MASON — It could be June before a new post office opens here because a fire Sunday caused about $75,000 damage to the building under construction.
There were no injuries, but the fire damaged the roof, electrical systems and some of the interior. Propane from a leaking tank inside the building was ignited by a construction heater, fire officials said.
“When we got here, we did have fire through the roof,” said Mason Fire Chief William Goldfeder. “We had an explosion.”
The new post office is at Reading and Snider roads.
Fire damage was isolated to the southeast corner of the building in what will be the retail area, said Anil Jindal, vice president of Jindal Builders, the general contractor. There was smoke damage throughout the structure, he said.
Fire crews were called to the building shortly before 5 p.m. and were on the scene until 8:30 p.m. Firefighters from Deerfield Township, South Lebanon and Union Township assisted Mason crews.
Postal officials had hoped to have the new office open in April.
“We're very disappointed,” said Bonni Manies, spokeswoman for the U.S. Postal Service, Cincinnati District. “We really need to be in that building. We've had such rapid growth in that area and the mail volume is such that we definitely need the facility.”
The post office is in a leased building on Second Avenue in downtown Mason. Growth in southern Warren County has that building packed and has required some employees to work out of a trailer, Mrs. Manies said. The office maintains 24 postal routes. It serves Mason and parts of Deerfield Township.
Mason's estimated population is 18,500 and is growing at about 15 percent per year, city officials say.
The $2.3 million, 20,000-square-foot post office, which was started in July, will be about five times larger than the current facility, Mrs. Manies said. It will offer more customer parking, 24-hour lobby access and a self-service area.
The delay in opening the new building will be frustrating not only for employees, but also for Mason residents and customers, Mrs. Manies said.
“They have been so wonderful working with us,” she said. “I know they've been looking forward to it as much as we have. Every minute (longer) is, of course, an aggravation.”
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