Titusville’s Diamond Street fire cause ruled as undetermined

Feb. 20--TITUSVILLE -- The cause of last week's fire on Diamond Street in downtown Titusville has been ruled undetermined, according to Titusville Fire Department Chief Joe Lamey.

The ruling came late Monday afternoon following an investigation of the scene Monday by Lamey, a Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal, and insurance adjusters for owner Jeff Dunayer of New York.

"It's not suspicious," Lamey told the Tribune. "There was no vandalism to the building (prior to the fire being discovered). There were no broken windows or doors, or doors left unlocked.

"We know the area where it began, but the cause is undetermined," Lamey said.

The fire began in the northwest corner on the first floor of the three-story building at 110 Diamond St., he said. The northwest corner is at the rear of the building.

The blaze was discovered before 5 a.m. Thursday by Missy Wescoat, owner of Missy's Arcade Restaurant located next door. Wescoat was arriving for work to open her diner for the day.

Whether the burned-out shell of the building will be torn down or can be rebuilt will be up to Tim Lorenz, the city's building inspector, Lamey said.

The building's third floor collapsed in on itself during the course of the fire, causing the second floor to collapse. Both floors then landed on the first floor, creating a large pile of rubble inside the structure.

The Old Fashion Haircuts barber shop and an adjoining vacant store front were on first floor. The second floor apparently was used for storage of antique furniture, and the third floor was vacant, Lamey said.

All utilities were in service in the barbershop, but the vacant storefront's utilities had been disconnected, he said. Utility service to the second and third floors had been disconnected, Lamey said.

While not damaged by fire, Missy's Arcade Restaurant and Hoppy's Sporting Goods in the adjoining building to the east sustained smoke and water damage, Lamey said.

Keith Gushard can be reached at 724-6370 or by email at kgushard@meadvilletribune.com.

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