Neighbors of Hamilton warehouse destroyed by fire say they’re glad to see it gone

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

As several pieces of heavy machinery worked to raze the remains of a burned warehouse in Hamilton’s Lindenwald neighborhood, people living across the street said they were glad to see it gone.

Larry Chance, 70, who has lived in his Laurel Avenue home 40 years, with his parents living there before him, said destruction of the building was “wonderful — been trying to get it done for 15 years.

No matter who owned it, it’s falling apart, dilapidated. The gutters have always leaked water, which turned into ice, which caused pedestrian and vehicle accidents, all up and down the whole 900 block of Laurel Avenue.”

 

Just last week, he said, he called the city to complain about high weeds on the property.

The warehouse was destroyed by a massive fire that began at about 4:45 on Thursday. There were no injuries, but the fire gutted the building and caused damage to nearby homes. Smoldering ruins were still smoking on Friday morning as officials continued to assess the damage and seek next steps for the ruins.

“Ashes,” Chance said, holding some up, as he cleaned up his front porch. “It used to be a chair.”

The extreme heat of the blaze melted and broke windows on properties across the street, as well as melting vinyl siding and shutters, and burning trees across the street.

He and other residents were pleased to see Vickers Wrecking and Demolition already working to level the building, as one Hamilton firefighter put it, to the ground.

 

About the Author