By David Eck
Enquirer contributor

MIDDLETOWN - A day after one of the largest fires to hit this community in years, firefighters watched for hot spots Monday and prepared to investigate the cause of the blaze.

But what sparked the spectacular fire that destroyed the building at 1210 Girard Ave. Sunday may never be known because of the destruction.

"That will take quite a while, if we're ever 100 percent sure," Middletown Fire Chief John Sauter said.

The four-story building caught fire shortly before 2 p.m.. The building, which housed Recker Custom Woodworks, was a total loss.

No damage estimate has been determined, Sauter said. In addition to the building and contents loss, a Middletown fire engine was heavily damaged when debris from the building fell on it. It is not known if the 1993 pumper will be a total loss, Sauter said.

No civilians were injured, but several firefighters suffered minor burns and strains, officials said.

Sauter praised his top supervisors for ordering firefighters out of the building shortly before it burst into massive flame. He said the decision might have saved firefighters' lives.

"We did have guys inside that building early on," Sauter said. "There was a lot more danger and fire inside that building than what was ever evident outside. The first arriving crews were met with some smoke. It rapidly became untenable."

Several items associated with the business such as raw wood, sawdust and finishings may have contributed to the intense fire. Past uses of the nearly century-old building may have also contributed to the heavy fire load, Sauter said.

Firefighters on arrival parked the engine based on the fire conditions they encountered outside the building. Officers, for safety reasons, would not allow firefighters to move the truck once the blaze intensified, the chief said.

Monroe and Franklin firefighters covered Middletown stations during the fire.

Recker Custom Woodworks has been located in the 40,000-square-foot building about 10 years. The company makes cabinetry and woodwork for the building trade.

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E-mail daveck@fuse.net