Official: Fairfield auto body business damaged by fire made modifications without permit

A person was taken to an area hospital and a dog died after fire ripped through an auto repair shop at 3300 Dixie Highway on Wednesday afternoon.

Fairfield fire investigators report an estimated $125,000 in damages to the building that houses three businesses. The fire appears to have affected the front section that houses Martinez Auto Repair, but smoke likely damaged an adjacent business in the building.

Investigators don’t yet know where or how the fire started, said Deputy Fire Chief Tom Wagner. The entire building is valued at just under $221,000, according to the Butler County Auditor’s website.

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“As far as a cause, it’s still under investigation,” he said.

The fire department called in the city’s building inspector because crews “did find a lot of modifications that were done to the building that weren’t done with a permit,” Wagner said. “We found load-bearing walls had been altered. There was electric in the building that’s not up to code.”

Wagner said there was a significant amount of painting materials, such as cans of paint and acetone, that was in the part that Martinez Auto Body occupies, and that fire “is going to spread pretty quickly if you have those kinds of materials, and if they’re not properly stored.”

Multiple fire crews responded to the business around 2 p.m. Wednesday. Flames were shooting out of the front of the building when crews arrived, Wagner said. The building is directly behind the Capri Motel and borders the city of Hamilton.

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The city’s building officials, and the fire department’s fire investigator and inspector were on site Thursday to inspect the aftermath of the fire. The investigator is waiting to meet with the owner’s insurance investigator before releasing additional information.

Before the building can be occupied for business, Wagner said the roof needs to be replaced and the electrical service needs to be brought up to code.

A Hamilton ambulance took one person to The Fort Hamilton Hospital, but fire officials wouldn’t release more details on that person’s condition or injury.

Wagner said a dog confined in the office that sustained the fire damage died, likely from smoke inhalation.

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