Fire Losses Estimated At $460,000

Fire losses estimated at $460,000

SATURDAY JAN 26 1980

An electrical malfunction is suspected as the cause of a fire which resulted in $460,000 in damages to a building on Jackson Road in Scio Township Thursday morning, says Dexter Fire Chief Michael Collins.

He said that although the exact cause of the fire hasn’t been pinpointed, the origin of the fire is in the ceiling area. Collins believes a malfunctioning 200 volt space heater or a florescent light fixture may have started the blaze. He said arson is not suspected.

Collins said the $460,000 figure includes damages to the building and contents. He said most of the fire damage occurred in office space rented by Gelman Sciences. That office reported $225,000 in damages, mostly in research records, he said.

The single-story brick and cin-derblock building at 3715 Jackson Road also contained offices and laboratories for Arcanum Corp. Industrial Tectonics Corp. and Sincar Corp.

The owner of the building is Herman Weber who also owns, Weber’s Restaurant. Collins said the building was the original location of Weber’s supper club years ago.