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Officials are investigating a fire that
destroyed 75 per cent of Graham Manufacturing Company at
Auburn early Wednesday morning.
According to reports, the blaze started sometime around
4:45 a.m. in the machine shop-cabinet shop area in one of two Quonset
type buildings.
The fire completely destroyed that building and spread to the second structure,
destroying about 25 per cent of the building.
Frank Weaver, owner and president of the company which employees 65
persons, estimated the loss of $100,000. With production shut down, 55 of
his workers will have to be laid off, Weaver said. |
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Residents near
the company located at the west edge of Auburn
reported hearing an explosion.
Several cans of
glue were in the cabinet shop but Weaver said these were not of the explosive
type. Officials are trying to determine if there was an explosion or if the
fire was the work of an arsonist.
Weaver reported
the company has insurance but it will not cover the entire loss, since
furniture was being stored in the building that was completely destroyed.
The other
building contained rough lumber and saws. Graham manufacturing produces
institutional and church furniture.
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The blaze was
brought under control at about 6:30 a.m.
Firefighters from the Auburn Rural Fire Department and Franklin braved
15-degree weather to battle the blaze.
This is the
second major fire in Logan
County
this month with some type of explosion involved.
Police are still
trying to learn what caused the fire and explosion at the Logan Theater in
Russellville earlier this month.
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