Former Hewitt Soap Factory rubble remains

DAYTON — Linden Avenue residents are still faced with debris remaining from a fire that destroyed the historic former Hewitt Soap Factory in December.

Earlier this month, residents said nothing had been done to clean up the rubble from the fire, and it was starting to spill into the street.

The city of Dayton has previously said the building owner is the responsible for the clean up, but there were plans for the city planning department to assess the site to see if there was a public safety issue.

The former soap factory building was destroyed in a fire Dec. 22, 2016. Emergency crews reported the flames lit up the night sky as they swirled about 90 feet above the building.

City fire officials determined the building would have to be demolished because it was unstable and there were concerns part of the building would collapse onto Linden Avenue.

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