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photo by Benita Heath
The Corner Diner in Coal Grove sustained water damage from a fire in an apartment above the restaurant. The fire that started in an upstairs apartment damaged the restaurant and displaced nine residents living above the business.
Fire rips through building
Blaze damages two Coal Grove businesses; guts apartment
Published Tuesday, December 29, 2009
COAL GROVE — Donna Malone sat huddled on a kitchen chair in front of what was once her home after an early morning fire gutted part of the structure that housed the Corner Diner and several upstairs apartments.
Covered in a blanket with soot caking her face, she waited as fire crews worked on pulling out what could be salvaged from the building on Marion Pike.
Malone left the scene before being asked for comment by the media. The Red Cross is assisting her and other residents needing shelter.
Coal Grove Volunteer Fire Department got the call about five minutes before 4 this morning, said Fire Chief Gary Sherman. When crews arrived, they found the upstairs of the building fully engulfed.
“Fire was blowing out of the front window and the attic,” Sherman said.
Firefighters first determined that all of the seven adults and two children were out of the building that also housed five upstairs apartments and Hapney’s Barber Shop, downstairs adjacent to the restaurant.
Apparently the fire was ignited by a candle burning in Malone’s front apartment, Sherman said.
Either wind blew a curtain into the candle flame or a cat in the apartment knocked the candle into the drapery, said Sherman who labeled it an accidental fire.
Despite current water line issues in the village, firefighters weren’t hampered by any lack of water or the frigid weather. Currently there are on-going upgrades of the water system that have caused parts of the village to be without water from time to time and a three-day leak in the system whose origin can’t be discovered.
Because of those problems, Sherman called in the tanker task force. However, those crews were not needed.
“There was no water problem and very little smoke damage to the other apartments,” Sherman said.
However Malone’s apartment is gutted and the Corner Diner below has significant water damage.
“The building as a whole is repairable,” Sherman said.
Assisting Coal Grove were units from Upper Township, Lawrence Township and Fayette Township with Decatur on standby.
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Comments
Posted by icu (anonymous) on December 29, 2009 at 11:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
how sad. glad all are ok and no loss of life.
Posted by skeeter1 (anonymous) on December 29, 2009 at 11:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I used to eat lunch with co-workers at the Corner Diner, it will be missed.
Posted by RabidTiger (anonymous) on December 29, 2009 at 1:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What happened to reporting that Ironton FD Responded with their Tower 1 to assist...??
Come on Tribune... you all are BETTER THAN THAT!
Posted by slither (anonymous) on December 29, 2009 at 1:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
if it wasnt for the ironton fire dept. there would probably be more damage,give them more credit !
Posted by smokeeater (anonymous) on December 29, 2009 at 2:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Coal Grove and Upper Township's FD had the fire pretty much knocked down by the time Ironton got there. Those boys had it under control. Any department will lend a hand to another. That's why they call it a brotherhood. They have only to ask. So good that no one was hurt. Structures can be rebuilt or repaired. People can not be replaced. Keep those who have experienced this loss in your thoughts.
Posted by john316 (anonymous) on December 29, 2009 at 2:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Are you serious!!! There are families without a home and people have to shut down their business' and all you can think about is the Ironton Fire Dept. didn't get enough recongnition. There is something wrong with this picture!!
Posted by howards5 (anonymous) on December 29, 2009 at 7:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I do agree that the Ironton FD does need to get the credit they deserve, HOWEVER, I must agree with john316 that the more pressing issue is that families are left without their homes and businesses!! My prayers are with them all....
Posted by Stunney (anonymous) on December 29, 2009 at 8:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Isnt that the place that sold the stinger burger??
Posted by slither (anonymous) on December 29, 2009 at 8:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hooray for Ironton FD , THEY ARE THE BEST
Posted by slither (anonymous) on December 29, 2009 at 8:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
WHEN DID G. SHERMAN BECOME A CARPENTER THAT KNOWS IF A STRUCTURE CAN BE REBUILT ?
Posted by Eric_Stratton (anonymous) on December 29, 2009 at 11:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Calm down, Slither and RabidTiger, this type of incident should never be about getting credit, folks, unlike you, should be showing concern for those that lost something in the fire, not who was there or who put it out as 3:16 wrote and as smokeeater said, firefighters help each other out, it's no big deal. Get over it.
As for Chief Gary Sherman giving his opinion on the viability of the structure and whether it can be rebuilt, this type of opinion is given with regularity after fire scenes and it should be taken for what it is worth, an opinion, but the final say so will be between the owner of the property and the insurance company. The chief is entitled to his opinion, period.
Posted by skeeter1 (anonymous) on December 30, 2009 at 10:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Coal Grove and Upper Town Ship got there and had it "knocked out" before Ironton FD arrived, you mean to tell me this even when it was in city of Ironton? Wow, thank God no one was hurt. Give God the credit!
Posted by Eric_Stratton (anonymous) on December 30, 2009 at 10:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Skeeter1, what are you talking about by asking "even when it was in the city of Ironton?" This fire was on Marion Pike in Coal Grove, not the city of Ironton. Read the article and posts people.
Posted by slither (anonymous) on December 30, 2009 at 3:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Gary Sherman should just stay being a fire dude and quit voicing his opinion on other peoples work or trade
Posted by cgman (anonymous) on December 30, 2009 at 4:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Slither you seem like your jealous of our fire chief. What does someone's opinion about a structure of a building get you so uptight for. Maybe we should contact the tribune and have them revise this article and put your name in replace of Shermans. Seems like your just looking for attention anyways. Your Pathetic!!!
Posted by nottellin (anonymous) on December 31, 2009 at 7:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What kind of petty children ARE you people???
Who CARES who responded? If they're in it for fame, they shouldn't be in it at all.
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