By Donna Snyder
SALAMANCA, N.Y. — The Salamanca police investigator who discovered the abandoned Fancher Furniture Co. factory on fire late Friday afternoon said five juveniles are expected to be arrested soon on charges of arson and assault.
Sgt. Benjamin Whitmore said Saturday that the five -- four boys and a girl, ages 12 and 13, and middle school students in the city -- were questioned, along with their parents Friday evening.
They have been released pending further investigation at the scene by a small army of state, county and city fire investigators.
“By Monday we expect to rule out accidental as the fire cause,” said Whitmore, “which we are now calling suspicious.”
“We’ve been watching the building regularly and another officer spotted a name spray-painted on a wall inside, which led us to the other juveniles,” Whitmore added.
Meanwhile, an environmental demolition crew has set up shop at the scene of the devastation of the three industrial buildings on Rochester Street. The loss was placed at $1.2 million. Five firefighters suffered minor injuries.
The fire was discovered by Whitmore at about 5:30 p.m. Friday as he was checking security at one of the old Fancher buildings. He said he spotted flames in the south corner of the structure near a loading dock.
The building is currently owned by the Seneca Nation of Indians, which acquired six acres of land and two of the buildings during a tax auction Dec. 31 for $61,000.
A third building is owned by Luminite Corp., a manufacturer of laser-engraved wallpaper rolls. That area was used for offices, and some files were removed Saturday. Their production facility is located on Route 353, outside the city.
The Senecas on Saturday hired a demolition contractor, AFI Environmental of Niagara Falls, to tear down the remaining walls of the burned-out buildings.
AFI project manager Pat Ackerman noted asbestos and other environmental testing was waived for the cleanup and demolition because the city declared a state of emergency Friday night.
Ackerman said negotiations are continuing to determine who will clear fire debris from the streets. City officials are anxious for this to happen to allow other businesses in the area to reopen.
Assistant City Fire Chief Ed Fredrickson said the battle was a gargantuan effort, with 43 fire companies from Cattaraugus County, including five aerial trucks, many pumpers and tankers participating. Hoses were extended to the Allegany River to provide water. Cattaraugus County Fire Coordinator Chris Baker called it “the largest fire ever in Cattaraugus County.”
On Saturday, fire equipment remained at the scene, pouring water on debris to keep the dust from spreading across the city. Water also was used to keep hot spots from flaring. In a related fire development, Whitmore said he arrested Bradley Thomas, 30, of Olean, on charges of third-degree grand larceny and criminal impersonation.
Whitmore said he spotted Thomas wearing a Kill Buck Fire Department helmet and jacket and air pack from Salamanca Fire Department. Thomas, who was arraigned in Salamanca City Court and is in Cattaraugus County Jail in lieu of $2,500 bail, had told authorities he was a Machias firefighter.
Patrick Morris The blaze that destroyed an abandoned factory in Salamanca was called the “the largest fire ever in Cattaraugus County.”
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