9:28 p.m.: Cause still undetermined in American Playground fire

May 08, 2008 09:26 pm

— By SHAWN McGRATH

ANDERSON — A fire investigator said Thursday he believes he’ll know next week what sparked a fire that caused an estimated $750,000 to $1 million in damage to a city manufacturer.
Anderson Fire Department investigator Jeff Freeman said an agent with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is expected Monday to assist in determining what caused the Tuesday night fire at American Playground, 6406 Production Drive. Freeman said nothing should be assumed from the ATF’s agent visit, and he stopped well short of calling the blaze suspicious.
“I have to treat them all like a crime’s been committed,” Freeman said. “That’s the way I have to do it.”
Firefighters were called to the playground equipment manufacturer at about 10:30 p.m., and had the blaze under control at about 1:30 a.m. Firefighters remained on the scene until about 4:30 a.m., and Freeman said he visited the site Wednesday and Thursday.
The fire investigator said they don’t yet know what caused the blaze, or where the fire started inside the large building. Freeman declined to estimate the building’s size. But according to the Anderson Economic Development Department, the single-story building has 39,150 square feet.
Freeman said the blaze caused an estimated $750,000 to $1 million in damage, and the building could be a total loss.
“It might be,” he said. “I think there’s some structural damage to some steal beams. It got hot enough to compromise the steal beams.”
But American Playground owner Peter O’Scanaill, Carmel, said he hopes to restart production by the end of next week. The company, which is insured, employs eight, he said. O’Scanaill has owned the business for 1 1/2 years, he said.

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