Investigation into Main St. fire continues

Fire marshal interviews firefighters, witnesses

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

By TAMMY BOULD

The Register-Mail

GALESBURG - Investigators still don't know what caused the fire that destroyed the former O.T. Johnson and Gross Galesburg buildings early Monday morning.

Galesburg Fire Chief John Cratty said the state fire marshal arson investigator arrived on the scene at 5:48 a.m. Monday and left around 2 p.m. The investigator is expected to return to the scene today.

"They like to be notified while the fire is going on," Cratty said. "We thought it was crucial to get him here so he could talk to all the witnesses and firefighters on the scene."

Normally, the GFD uses its own certified fire investigation people, and if arson is suspected, works with investigators from the Galesburg Police Department. For large fires, the GFD also has the option to call in the state fire marshal and the Illinois State Police crime investigator.

Cratty said he decided to use the state fire marshal because of the magnitude of the fire and because his trained personnel were working at the scene to get the fire under control.

"Nothing has been ruled out at this point," Cratty said. "The process of interviewing firefighters and witnesses occurred all through the day yesterday."

Cratty noted that when firefighters arrived at the scene at 1:32 a.m. Monday, they noticed a significant amount of fire in the second floor of 125 E. Main St., but at this time, they can't even say for sure that is where the fire started.

At this time, the investigation is hampered by the smoldering fire in the rubble and some dangerous walls still standing. The rubble also is unstable and unsafe for someone to walk on.

Firefighters were at the scene all night.

The pumpers were shut down about 6:30 p.m., Capt. Brad Stevenson said. Two unmanned "deck guns," that stream water automatically, were set up to spray on the hot spots to keep them in check. Firefighters rotated in two-hour shifts to keep an eye on the scene.

Stevenson added because of the depth and type of the debris, it will be impossible to get all of the fire put out until some of it is removed.

Work was started Monday afternoon on knocking down some of the unstable walls and will continue today.

"The two key things today are to get the walls down and then to get the utility people in to restore power so the businesses can reopen," Cratty said.

Streets around the area remain barricaded and are expected to be closed most of the day. The closed streets include North Cherry street from Main Street to Water Street; South Cherry Street from Main Street to the bank driveway; North Prairie Street to Water Street; South Prairie Street to the bank parking lot; and Ferris Street from Broad to Prairie streets.

The 100 blocks of East Main and Ferris streets will not be reopened until the demolition is completed and the rubble is removed from the streets.

Once the rubble pile is stabilized and the potential for structural collapse is removed, investigators will start sifting for evidence as to the cause of the fire.