City thanks firefighters for job well-done; scene released to property owner

As the investigation continues into the "suspicious" cause of the weekend fire that destroyed the former Highland Enterprise, Hillsboro city leadership thanked area firefighters for their hard work that kept the blaze contained and prevented the devastation from spreading to other area businesses. 

In his report to the Hillsboro City Council during their regular meeting Monday, Mayor Drew Hastings said that many factors prevented the fire from becoming worse. However, he remains an optimistic person who is looking forward to the positive things that are ahead for Hillsboro. 

"I'm a very optimistic guy," Hastings said. "I'm very optimistic about what we have here in this room and the people that we have working here together. That can best be illustrated, I was standing down at that fire - we all know about (Sunday) - and maybe it's my naiveté at times, but I always look for the bright side. The one bright side was, I thanked God it was about 45-50 degrees. It could have been a typical January, and it could have been 5 degrees, and we could have had all kinds of problems with frozen water and lines ... No matter how bleak sometimes things look, there's always a bright side."

Chief Jerry Powell of Hillsboro Fire and Rescue told The Highland County Press Tuesday that the ruins of the fire, in the 200 block of West Main Street, could continue to smolder, but that the property has been released to the property owner, Darrell Tissot. 

Investigators with the Ohio State Fire Marshal's Office had initially called the fire "suspicious." On Wednesday, Powell told The HCP that it determined to be a "human-act fire."

"This doesn't mean it was an intentional fire," Powell said. "There's no way to know intent."

Powell said that the physical investigation has been wrapped up and that the property owner can begin demolition. He estimated approximately 60 firefighters responded to the blaze.

Witnesses have reported that people in their late teens to early 20s were seen running from the area minutes before smoke started showing, and investigators are working to prove or disprove those statements. 

Powell said that he is incredibly proud of his department and all the firefighters who came together to contain the fire. 

"I can't express how grateful I am to everyone," Powell said. "Everyone really stepped up (Sunday). I can't say enough about my guys. We had volunteers coming in from counties away. People do care, and people do pitch in when they are needed."

Powell agreed that the weather and wind direction were not working against them Sunday. 

"We very easily could have had a different outcome," Powell said. 

Building materials and other products, such as carpet, were in storage on the property, Powell said. However, some large equipment was able to be removed in time. 

Primary fire crews were on scene for more than four hours, and they initially made entry on the store structure, but Powell said that they quickly withdrew. 

"I was fortunate to have an experienced captain, and because of that, we didn't have any major injuries," Powell said. "They made entry, and when they saw the conditions, they immediately backed out. As soon as they did, it flashed over. But they were at a safe distance when it did." 

In addition to going through witness statements and physical evidence, Powell said investigators are going through pictures and videos taken at the scene. 

Powell said that Mayor Hastings wrote a letter to the department, thanking them for a job well-done, which the chief said was greatly appreciated. 

Members of council also expressed their thanks Monday night. 

"I'd like to thank the Hillsboro firefighters for a job well-done on the fire on Sunday," said council member Brian Waller at the conclusion of his street and safety committee report. 

Council President Lee Koogler, whose business in the 100 block of North High Street sustained extensive damage during a fire in March 2011, said he understands the devastation a fire can cause.  

"Certainly I think we all would commend them for their efforts, for all the departments. It's something that certainly could have gotten out of hand," Koogler said. "With a personal, first-hand experience of what a fire can do to your life, I appreciate the efforts that they have made on behalf of the property owners, as well as the city."