YOUNGSTOWN — A second alarm fire ripped through a century old building on the outskirts of downtown early Sunday evening. Companies were dispatched to the Youngstown Mattress and Arts Building, Box 1323, at 460 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd at 7:18pm on May 22, 2005. The fire was only three buildings down from the Main Youngstown Fire Station. Despite its proximity, the building was too heavily involved when the first companies arrived on scene. Crews were forced to switch to go defensive and protect nearby exposures. Engines 7, 2, 3, Squad 33, Ladders 22 and 24 and Battalions 1 and 2 responded on the initial box.
At 7:23, command requested a second alarm for the fire but only Engine 6 was dispatched due to a communication problem. At 7:33pm, command again requested a second alarm for the fire and received Engines 9, 12 and 15. This brought all the city fire companies to the scene. At 7:37pm, command requested an additional Ladder from one of the outlying fire departments and Austintown Ladder 1 was dispatched.
Off duty recall of personnel had just been initiated when dispatch reported that calls for a vacant house fire on the south side were being received. The second alarm companies were redirected to 475 Idora along with the Boardman Fire Department. Fire Control also responded to Idora and assumed command of the operations.
The building at 460 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd was built at the turn of the century and was originally the manufacturing facility for the Youngstown Mattress Company. The building was currently home to art studios and a beauty salon. The building is a total loss. The cause is still under investigation.
05/22/2005 - Fire Tears Through Century Old Building
05/23/2005 - Fire Destroys Gallery Near Station No. 1
05/24/2005 - Youngstown Mattress Company Arts Fire
05/24/2005 - Youngstown Mattress Fire Is 1st Responder's Main Story
05/25/2005 - Youngstown Art And Soul
05/26/2005 - Additional Photos From The Youngstown Mattress Company Arts Center And 476 Idora Structure Fire Available
06/02/2005 - Cedars Lounge Event Raises Over 10,000 For Victims Of Mattress Company Blaze
06/07/2005 - New Photos Of The YMCAC Fire Courtesy Of Worldmegan.com
