Alliance NAPA fire damage tops $1 million

ALLIANCE Inspectors have not discovered what caused the explosion and resulting fire Monday afternoon in the warehouse at the NAPA Auto & Trucks Parts outlet at 317 E. State St.

"We know about where it started," Inspector Guy Aumend of the city Fire Department said Tuesday. "We don't know exactly where it started."

Firefighters and police worked late into the night Monday securing the scene. No one was injured during the explosion.

The warehouse where the explosion occurred is adjacent to the NAPA store to the south.

Damage is estimated at $200,000 to the single-story brick structure and $850,000 to contents in the business.

Aumend said he is not certain if the NAPA store will reopen. The warehouse is a total loss. The roof was burned off the warehouse. The front entrance windows were blown out.

"We are waiting on the insurance company investigators now," Aumend said.

The building is owned by Danny Hughes of North Benton, according to Stark County real estate records.

Investigators are hoping to make contact with a woman who was wearing a black shirt and a youth, possibly a boy, who had on a red shirt. There are camera images of them at the scene when the explosion occurred.

"I want to talk to them," Aumend said. "They had to see something."

Damage from the explosion and fire included a motor vehicle in the parking lot. Also, an adjacent restaurant called New China at 337 E. State St. is suffering losses.

"They don't have any electric or gas either," Aumend said. "I am sure they will file a claim for lack of business."

NAPA is an acronym for National Automotive Parts Association.

Reach Malcolm at 330-580-8305 or [email protected]

On Twitter: @mhallREP

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