January 16, 1989

Shortage of water lets fire rage, engulf Sentco
by John Goodall, Vindicator Staff Writer

Firefighters hamstrung by a lack of water on industrialized North Meridian Road were unable to halt a roaring blaze that leveled much of Sentco Paint Manufacturing Co.

Authorities trying to determine the cause of Sunday's blaze were stymied by smoldering rubble reminiscent of the aftermath of a bombing raid. Two Youngstown Fire Department companies were instructed to remain through the night, dousing hot spots with water.

"We'll be bringing a crane in and getting a better look the next couple of days," Fire Chief Gerald Kernan said. "But it's going to be hard to pinpoint what started it."

The three alarm fire, fed by paint and asphalt products, quickly raged out of control in the predawn hours as pumper trucks ferried water to the site from a hydrant on Vestal Road. 

Balls of flame mushroomed above crumbling block walls as a huge column of black smoke choked the sparsely populated area North of the facility. The incident forced the closing of North Meridian and evacuation of homes on Salt Springs and Bundy Road.

"The volume of water is not there. The pressure is fine; it's the volume," Kernan explained. "The problem is that we have only one 8-inch main."

The blaze had already broken through the roof of the facility at 1301 N. Meridian Road as the first fire units arrived at about 4:30 a.m. But at least one member of the Brothers family that operates the company said he believed the building might have been saved if action could have been taken quickly.

Scott A. Brothers, 31, of 3388 White Beech Lane, grew so frustrated at one point that he began moving barrels of solvent and wooden pallets away from the outer walls.

When he ignored the orders of fire officials to stay back, he was arrested at about 6:30 a.m., taken to the Youngstown Police Department and charged with misconduct at a fire scene. Brothers returned later in the morning to assist in saving some products and equipment.

His mother, Wanda, vice president of Sentco, said she felt firefighters had done everything possible. "That's it. That's all the water there is," she said as she watched a small stream being poured on the fire from an aerial unit. "You could get almost as much water from two garden hoses."

Despite becoming increasingly industrialized, the North Meridian area of the city bordering Trumbull County always will have problems with water volume, a Youngstown Water Department Official said. 

"That's really the end of everything, as far as the water system is concerned," said Gene Leason, chief engineer for the Water Department. "No matter what, there's going to be a physical limitation at the outer reaches."

Leason said he believes only a sprinkler system, which was not installed at Sentco, could have limited damage. 

Sentco was not required to have a sprinkler unit under regulations that existed when it moved to North Meridian in the early 1980s. Sprinklers probably would be necessary in a similar plant built today, Kernan said.

Company officials were unable to provide firefighters with a damage estimate until an inventory is taken. Rolan Brothers, Sentco president, said, however, that the structure alone had been appraised at $800,000.

Sunday morning, Brothers said he hoped to rebuild, but it was too early to assess the company's situation. "We're hoping to stay in business," he said. "The trouble is, it takes months and months to order in new machinery."

The owner was philosophical about the disaster. "What can you do?" he asked. "You'd like to blame someone but there's no one to blame."

Product orders to be filled, Mrs. Brothers said, are down at this time of year. But even those may be difficult to meet because company records recently were moved to the newer section of the structure that was completely consumed by the fire.

Most of the 32 employees will be without jobs, at least temporarily, company spokesmen said. Had the fire occurred during the warmer months, the number could have been 60.

"This is what you call watching your job go up in smoke," said Ed Consla of Mineral Ridge, a hauler for Sentco. The fire was a blow, he admitted, but he was pleased to be one of the first workers company officials called to move large truck trailers away from the burning building.

"We keep getting closer and closer to a real bad situation," said Walter Duzzny, director of Mahoning County Disaster Services. Disaster Services personnel stood by along with members of the Hazardous Materials Emergency Management Response Agency.

Had thick black smoke drifter to the south instead of northward, it could have created a problem, Duzzny said. "We were really keeping an eye on that nursing home up the road [Omni Manor]," he added.

Kernan said the smoke was not particularly toxic but would be dangerous in concentrated amounts. Families from three homes in the path of the column on Salt Springs Road, as well as several houses on Bundy Road, were evacuated by Disaster Services.

Water runoff samples were taken by Bruce Miller of the Environmental Protection Agency office in Twinsburg. He said he did not expect runoff to be a problem.

Fire Officials continue probe in Sentco blaze.

Youngstown Fire Department officials are continuing their investigation into a fire that destroyed Sentco Paint Manufacturing Co., John Zamary, chief arson investigator, said today.

Much of the facility, located at 1301 N. Meridian Road, was leveled in a fire Sunday.

Damage estimates remain unavailable, Zamary said. Sentco President Roland Brothers has set damages to the building alone at $800,000.

Last month, federal agents launched an investigation of Sentco based on allegations that the company has been improperly disposing of paint byproducts.

An FBI spokesman refused to talk about the investigation's status that morning. 

Company officials were unavailable for comment. 

- Articles from the Youngstown Vindicator

Photos and newspaper clipping courtesy of Dave Kloss