Fire damages Middletown shopping center, roof and dentistry heavily damaged

Middletown Fire Department and crews from surrounding areas including Trenton, Monroe, Franklin Twp., Liberty Twp. and Turtlecreek Twp. fought a large fire Wednesday night at a Middletown shopping center where five businesses were damaged. No injuries were reported.

The fire, reported around 5:27 p.m., began inside the back of Gentle Family Dentistry, 4484 Marie Drive, in Kittyhawk Plaza, said Middletown Fire Capt. Frank Baughman, who is a fire marshal. The dental business that occupies two suites in the wing, was heavily damaged by smoke, water and fire.

“It sustained extensive damage,” he said.

The other businesses, including an insurance company, had at minimum of smoke damage.

Baughman said the fire got into a common attic and traveled onto the roof and was blazing when fire firefighters arrived. It was knocked down, but the roof sustained heavy damage.

“It was pretty ugly,” Baughman said.

The decades old shopping center in the city’s East End is located in a busy area and the blazing roof was visible for miles. Dispatchers received 25 911 calls reporting the fire, according to records.

The first male caller said he saw smoke and fire and smelled rubber burning.

Another male caller told dispatchers he was behind the shopping center and smoke and flames.

“It’s on fire,” the caller said.

A female caller reported pulling around the shopping center and “saw it burst into flames.”

Fire units remained on the scene until 11:30 p.m. The cause remains under investigation.

On Thursday morning, the windows of several businesses, including the dentist office, are boarded up and the office is closed. The damage on the roof is not visible from the front of the center.

Fire officials said there were no injuries to those in the businesses or to firefighters. Fire marshals were at the scene looking for a cause Wednesday night.

Credit: Nick Graham