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Fire destroys vacant rope factory in Xenia

Christopher Magan/Staff Photographer Smoke can be seen pouring from the Hooven & Allison Company building on Monday, August 24, 2009.

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Contributed by Leon Harrison/A fire at the old Hooven & Allison site in Xenia demolished a warehouse and sent thick black smoke into the air that was visible for miles Monday, Aug. 24.

Photo contributed by Leon Harrison Contributed by Leon Harrison/A fire at the old Hooven & Allison site in Xenia demolished a warehouse and sent thick black smoke into the air that was visible for miles Monday, Aug. 24.

Blaze at the former Hooven and Allison facility draws crowds.

By Christopher Magan, Staff Writer Updated 12:24 AM Tuesday, August 25, 2009

XENIA — A fire Monday, Aug. 24, that tore through a vacant factory of rope maker Hooven and Allison remains under investigation, a fire official said.

Firefighters were expected to be at the structure well into Monday night to keep the blaze contained.

Firetrucks were dispatched to the abandoned site about 2 p.m. as yellowish-grey smoke poured from the former factory. Cincinnati Avenue, which runs by the property, was cordoned off as the smoke turned black when firefighters said the tar and shingle roof collapsed.

The fire was declared under control about 3:30 p.m., Deputy Fire Chief Steve Pegram said.

A backhoe and other equipment was sifting through rubble searching for “hidden fire,” he said.

Crews from the city and the townships of Xenia, Cedarville and Spring Valley brought 50 firefighters. No injuries were reported.

Many of the neighborhood’s residents watched from sidewalks and snapped photos from a nearby bike trail. Some reported hearing explosions coming from the burning building.

Hooven and Allison has been abandoned since at least 2004, and there has been one arson on the property, Pegram said. The more than 100-year-old factory is fenced -in, and the utilities have been turned off.

The building next door to this warehouse caught fire previously in October 2005. Four Xenia High School teenagers were charged with delinquency by reason of arson and breaking and entering in connection with that fire. Officials said that fire was believed to be a recreational fire that got out of control.

The damage from that fire was estimated at $300,000.

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency was on the scene monitoring the air quality because the location was believed at one time to have had hazardous materials.

Next month, a state controlling board is to decide whether to give the city up to $300,000 to perform environmental tests to determine what hazards are on the site, City Manager Jim Percival said. It is unclear how the fire will affect that decision.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2342 or cmagan@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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I was terribly sorry to hear about the fire and am extremely glad nobody was hurt. Thanks to all of those who responded to this emergency - you're all wonderful and I thank God for you each and every day. It was always exciting to me when I was able to go almost anywhere in the country and see rope made by H&A. I know the right decisions will be made as to what steps should be taken next. It's hard to see history disappear.

Xenian
9:00 AM, 8/25/2009

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I am glad the deputy fire chief knew what he was doing NOT

doitright
7:36 AM, 8/25/2009

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Honestly, I'm kinda sad there was another fire. It's a piece of Xenia history.

People won't get hurt if they stay the hell away from it.

Ashley
1:12 AM, 8/25/2009

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Yeah, the city just got a grant to do a cleanup, but hey would probably have to take it from the owners first. This will only speed it up I'm sure.

Rich
10:10 PM, 8/24/2009

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