A cleaning woman was rescued from the 11th floor of the Huntington Bank building on West Federal Street in downtown Youngstown during a two-alarm fire just after 8 p.m. Wednesday.
Fire crews were unable to reach her with their ladder trucks and eventually brought her down the stairs. She was screaming and crying hysterically at the scene, where she was immediately given oxygen by rescue workers.
She was taken to the hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation but is expected to be OK, according to Youngstown Fire Chief John O'Neill.
Smoke could be seen pouring from the building's second floor within minutes of the initial fire call, which was made by the rescued woman.
O'Neill said the fire started in the main bank area of the first floor and caught some of the ornate wood on fire. He said the flames spread up the pipe chase and because of that, all the floors have significant smoke damage.
"Extensive cleanup will be required," O'Neill said.
Embers were still smoldering just before 10 p.m. and O'Neill said final wetdowns were being done. He said the biggest challenge was venting out the upper floors, which was being done one floor at a time.
Huntington Regional President Frank Hierro said the bank's lobby will be closed until at least Monday, but the building's upper floors, where law offices and other offices are located, could be ready for occupancy on Thursday. However, he said it would be up to the restoration crew to make that determination.
Hierro said there was water damage on the first floor and smoke damage throughout the building.
I always liked the fine woodwork on the main floor of the bank.
Quote from: jay on July 12, 2012, 05:34:20 AM
I always liked the fine woodwork on the main floor of the bank.
Me too. So much so, that I've considered moving my accounts there.
I hope they are able to fully restore the lobby.
UPDATE
Damage to bank estimated at $100,000.00
http://www.wfmj.com/global/story.asp?s=19005427 (http://www.wfmj.com/global/story.asp?s=19005427)
Metro Monthly photos of fire and damage
http://www.metromonthly.net/ (http://www.metromonthly.net/)
Quote from: Towntalk on July 12, 2012, 11:29:59 AM
UPDATE
Damage to bank estimated at $100,000.00
http://www.wfmj.com/global/story.asp?s=19005427 (http://www.wfmj.com/global/story.asp?s=19005427)
According to the Business Journal, the estimated damage is more than $875,000. That seems much more in line with the pictures from the Metro Monthly link. :(
http://businessjournaldaily.com/banking-finance/downtown-huntington-branch-reopen-monday-2012-7-12 (http://businessjournaldaily.com/banking-finance/downtown-huntington-branch-reopen-monday-2012-7-12)
What suprises me is that the bank plans to reopen for business Monday according to the Business Journal. I know that they said that the businesses in the building would be open, but given the fire damage to the bank itself I'm suprised.
Entire buildings downtown don't sell for much more than that.
Quote from: Towntalk on July 12, 2012, 04:10:22 PM
What suprises me is that the bank plans to reopen for business Monday according to the Business Journal. I know that they said that the businesses in the building would be open, but given the fire damage to the bank itself I'm suprised.
I'm guessing that most of the damage is cosmetic, and can be temporarily covered, or just "lived" with, for the time being.
What concerns me is the smoke damage as well as water damage ... it's very difficult to clear out the smell and the smell will permeate the banking room because of the carpeting and paneling. Also what would the effect be on the electronics?
In the interior photos there appears to be plastic all over the furniture and floors. Wouldn't think that the fire dept. would carry plastic sheeting around with them for situations like this.
fire chief oneil ruled out the ytown council reps were responsible for the fire. rumour on the street council was upset with the business chamber for endorsing all 17 charter recommendations. so council fire bombed the bldg which would had been the wrong bldg.
All types of fix-up and cleaning crews were busy at the Huntington Bank Building today.
did the yfd water the must needed flowers at the huntington bank's flower beds. it is a lack of care and community service amd waste of city scapes monies when busineses do not live up to their obligations aka providing one gallon of water to keep their free city donated flowrs from dying up and swiverling up to die a painful death in the hot july sun.
There is nothing stopping any of you from going downtown with some water and watering these plants. Didn't Cityscape think to recruit a team of volunteers to maintain the plants? Gather up some water and go down and save those plants! Don't complain, just do it!
It was the employees of the bank who begged for the plants for their window ledge. Other StreetScape volunteers had to search up and down West Federal Street to find a few extra plants for the bank.
Oh for crying out loud!!!! Stuff and nonsense!!!! The folks at the bank have more important things to do than water a few poseys!!!! Blame it on the buildings janitors...they are the ones responsible for keeping the building up...that's their job...that's what they're paid to do...or is that too difficult to understand? Blame can also be placed at the feet of the buildings tenants...perhalps CityScape should ignore the buildings and just plant their Petunia's and Pansy's elsewhere along the street.
That's the problem with society today....it's somebody elses job to water the plants....
"I am too important to water flowers"....
"It's not in my job description...it's not my job!".....
people, do you really hear yourselfs?
Sad when all mankind can't take 5 minutes to water some flowers....
As ugly as they are, I would rather have artificial flowers in that planter.
It's not a case of "I am too important ... It's not my job"
These buildings hire men to maintain the building, this involves not only taking care of the mechanics but keeping the building clean and safe. Most of the day they are not so busy that they can't take a few minutes to water the plants.
On the other hand, the bank employees are charged with doing specific jobs that carry with it a responsibility to the banks customers, and that does not include watering flowers.
The employees of the businesses that have offices in the building also have responsibilities to their employers that does not include building maintenance.
Towntalk.....sorry, it is about "it's not my job".....
again, I guess if it not listed specifically in the job description for maintainence people, they don't have
to do it....
and again, if it's not listed specifically in the job description of bank tellers or managers, they don't have to do it....
Can't somebody associated with that building take 5 minutes from lunch time, break time, or when leaving the building for the night to
put water in a dixie cup and water the flowers?
As a school principal, it's not in my job description to pick up paper or pencils left on the floor, nor to grab a mop some days to clean up a spill or some student's vomit.....but I do it.....
It truely is that simple.
If it's done during lunch break, that's a horse of another feather provided the building maintenance folks don't object. Some of these folks can get pretty angry when they perceive someone else doing their job.
as a renter i try my best to keep the outside plants healthy by watering them on a daily basis. its the ldlds responsibility but they live in boardman and canfield in which it creates a problem. so, i help out, no big deal. as for the bank's or the bldg's owners shame on them for their uncaring attitude.
Quote from: jay on July 13, 2012, 10:29:37 AM
As ugly as they are, I would rather have artificial flowers in that planter.
I am extreemly dismayed by this answer of yours Jay >:( - You MUST have had a bad day - it's sooo kay - hope your feeling better soon :-*
Dennis, you are pro union so you of all people should know that it is not the union way to think outside of the box and do anything not in your job description. This is a big union town and the bank employees were just doing things the "union way".
Rick, don't turn this in to a union thing. My father was in the union for 37 years, but he still did the right thing even if it wasn't in his contract....I am sure there are some white-collared non-union managers who work in that bank building who also never watered the flowers because it was beneath their all-mighty positions in life.
:) Bank reopened for banking business ... use Market Street entrance.
I noticed a couple of days ago that Dennis seems to be back to his old childish name-calling. It's now been confirmed. What a way to set an example for the kids, Mr. Principal.
As for your father doing the right thing, all kids believe their father does the right thing. But the truth is, you weren't there and really don't know.
Also as the great union supporter that you are, you surely do realize that going beyond your job description (whether you're union or not) can have negative consequences initiated by those whose union job you are infringing upon (whether or not they actually are doing the job).