Fire at vacant Medina factory appears suspicious

MEDINA – The fire at the former S.A. Furniture Factory on Monday is considered suspicious, Medina Fire Department officials said in a news release.

Firefighters were dispatched to the site at 525 East Ave. at 11:49 a.m. Crews on scene under the command of Chief Thomas Lupo found smoke coming from the second and third floor windows of a large vacant commercial brick building.

Crews were able simultaneously find and extinguish fires on both the second and third floors as well as search the building for any occupants. Nobody was discovered and there were no injuries to any firefighters despite multiple hazards inside the building, said Steve Cooley, a Medina firefighter and public information officer.

Damage to the building is estimated at $2,000. The cause of the fire appears to be suspicious and is under investigation by both the police and fire department. The building was turned over to and secured by Village Code Enforcement officer Martin Busch.

Firefighters from the Medina Fire Department as well as one engine crew from the Ridgeway Fire Department and a RIT crew from the Lyndonville Fire Company responded. Also assisting on scene were staff from the Medina Department of Public Works.

“The quick response of the on-duty crew was supplemented with the response of seven off-duty career firefighters and two callmen firefighters who were training at Glenwood Lake with Engine 10,” Cooley said.