Trains will go slow by burnt-out structure in Medina

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 April 2023 at 10:16 am

At least 7.5 million gallons of water used to put out fire

Photo by Tom Rivers: The three-story Medina sandstone structure at 613 Main St. is fenced off after a fire on Friday caused extensive damage to the structure. About 400 feet of fencing has been donated by the Hellner Development Corp.

MEDINA – Firefighters used at least 7.5 million gallons of water to put out the fire on Friday at 613 Main St. That doesn’t count the water drawn in two spots from Oak Orchard Creek.

Medina Mayor Mike Sidari, a Medina firefighter for about 40 years, said the blaze was the biggest he’s seen at Medina. He thanked firefighters, about 150 in all, and other responders for getting the fire under control without spreading.

“Thanks to all of those entities that provided help for us,” Sidari said at Monday’s Village Board meeting. “The operation went smoothly.”

A structural engineer has deemed the building in no danger of immediate collapse after the roof and floors caved in. The building is fenced off and the village has an agreement from building owner Jeff Fuller to stabilize the site.

Medina Fire Chief Matt Jackson said trains will be going slower through the village, down from 25 miles per hour to 10 miles per hour to reduce vibrations to the site, which is next to the railroad tracks.

Jackson thanked the many departments that responded with mutual aid, including four that brought aerial ladder trucks to join medina’s. Those five trucks each put at least 2,000 gallons of water a minute on the fire for at least five hours.

Jackson said there weren’t any injuries from the fire, and one of the residents was safely rescued from a second-floor window.

He thanked the Medina Department of Public Works, code enforcement and the Police Department for their work which was “essential” in managing the situation.

Fire investigators from the county and state also continue to work on determining the cause of the blaze, Jackson said.

The fire at 613 Main St. on Friday spewed dark smoke for several hours.