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Abandoned Silk Mill Destroyed By Blaze

By JERRY LYNOTT jlynott@leader.net
 Tuesday, May 22, 2001 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1A 





WILKES-BARRE - A day after a four-alarm blaze destroyed an abandoned silk
mill, police on Monday said they charged two 13-year-old boys with setting the
fire. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Police said the boys, who were released to the custody of their parents,
will be petitioned to juvenile court on charges of arson, criminal trespass,
causing or risking a catastrophe and criminal mischief. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The charges back up reports of neighbors who said they saw two teenagers
run from the Panam Silk Mill building on South Franklin Street shortly before
flames shot through the roof around 2 p.m. Sunday. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A Westminster Street neighbor who asked not to be identified said one of
the boys rode away on a bicycle with the other boy running alongside on
Rowland Street. One of the boys returned later, the neighbor said. ``I saw him
watching the fire from here yesterday.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The neighbor said he told police about what he saw. Police would not
identify the teenagers and refused to talk about the cause of the fire or
where it started. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A state police fire marshal called in to assist in the investigation
retrieved a gasoline can from the building. Police took the can into evidence
on Monday afternoon but refused to say what role it had in the fire. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``We're not going to comment on anything that might have to do with the
prosecution in this case,'' said Wilkes-Barre Police Detective Capt. Gerry
Dessoye. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But Mayor Tom McGroarty spoke at length about the quick work of
firefighters and police. City leaders approved an emergency expense of $33,000
to demolish the fire damaged building that posed a safety hazard. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``This was a bad fire here yesterday. And then no one was hurt and on top
of that they were able today to go in there safely and find the origin and
find out what caused it and bring that to a resolution,'' the mayor said. ``So
everybody can sleep better tonight knowing we have a great fire department,
police department.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Heavy equipment from Brdaric Excavating knocked down the buckled brick
walls and twisted steel beams. Smoke still rose from one corner of the
building and firefighters trained a hose on the smoldering debris. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Fire Chief Jay Delaney said the three floors collapsed and hot spots
remained in the rubble. The heavy equipment pulled back the debris to give
firefighters a clear shot at the hot spots. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The building had been vacant for a number of years and there was no
electricity or natural gas feeding into it, Delaney said. When a portion of
the roof collapsed shortly after firefighters arrived on Sunday, the decision
was made to mount a defensive operation and not send anyone inside, Delaney
said. Aerial ladder trucks from the Kingston and Hanover Township fire
departments assisted Wilkes-Barre crews. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Delaney said thick smoke spread throughout the neighborhood Sunday.
Firefighters used air monitors to test for harmful chemicals and carbon
monoxide. ``We didn't find anything.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The building's owner has yet to be located, McGroarty said. Rather than
await permission for demolition, the city acted in the interest of public
safety, he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``As with anything, our first job is to secure the site for safety then
we'll go after the insurance and get our money back. My record speaks volumes
for public safety,'' McGroarty said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 If the city cannot recoup anything in insurance, it might have to cut
something out of this year's budget, he said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Jerry Lynott, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7237. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Fire Investigation Gutted By Blaze, Panam Silk Mill Razed For Public Safety Teens Charged With Arson