Tuesday, April 3rd, 2018
Fire during remodeling work damages Coldwater building
By Tom Stankard
Photo by Tom Stankard/The Daily Standard
Firefighters respond to the scene of a fire at 216 W. Main St., Coldwater, on Monday afternoon. Members of Coldwater, Celina, St. Henry, Burkettsville and Montezuma fire departments responded to the fire.
COLDWATER - A fire ignited on Monday afternoon at an establishment where the owner reportedly struck a gas line during remodeling.
Doug Broering, owner of the former Steelworkers of America building, 216 W. Main St., was working on the north side of the building's interior when he accidentally struck the line, Coldwater Fire Chief Brent Forsthoefel told the newspaper. The puncture reportedly caused a spark that ignited the blaze. Broering and his family were able to escape uninjured before reporting the fire at 4:30 p.m.
Coldwater firefighters witnessed heavy smoke pouring from the building when they arrived. Forsthoefel then requested mutual aid from Celina, St. Henry, Burkettsville and Montezuma fire departments.
Fifty firefighters battled the blaze with 10 trucks. A few climbed onto the roof, where firefighter John Schumm used a chainsaw to cut a hole in the roof to help with ventilation.
Flames caused extensive damage to the back room where the fire had started, and smoke caused severe damage throughout, totaling about $50,000 in damages, Forsthoefel said, adding the building is insured. The fire did not spread to neighboring businesses.
