The fire destroyed Cleland's Outdoor World on Airport Highway near Eber Road. The State Fire Marshal and ATF announced the result of their investigation Tuesday. That report says: "Following interviews with witnesses and first responders and an extensive on-scene investigation, investigators say electrical components, air handling units and wiring can not be eliminated as the cause of the fire. Because a specific cause could not be pinpointed, the cause of the fire will officially be ruled UNDETERMINED. "
The report also says: "The fire spread quickly through the roof joists and rapidly vented out of the peaks of the building. As a result of the fire, the building and its contents are deemed a total loss with damage estimates at more than $500,000."
During the blaze, exploding rounds of ammunition could be heard coming from the popular guns and ammo store and shooting range.
Customers inside nearby Loma Linda Restaurant had a close-up view. At the fire chief's direction, troopers raced into the restaurant to keep patrons away from the front windows. An Ohio Highway Patrol post next to Cleland's was evacuated
"Certainly there was some concern. We kept people back and used aerial devices without people at the top. We used some unmanned lines to keep it from extending over to the patrol post," said Monclova Fire Chief Kevin Bernhard. The chief said he even found shell casings on top of a fire truck.
Smoke poured from the building for hours after the fire began around 2:30 p.m. Thick black and brown smoke could be seen for miles throughout the afternoon.
Four departments placed between 30 to 40 firefighters on the scene. One firefighter twisted an ankle. Another suffered heat exhaustion. Crews managed to keep the flames from spreading to the front of the building where the majority of the ammo, including kegs of gun powder, was stored.
Cleland's is a well-known, family-owned business. 13abc has presented many stories from Cleland's involving gun and hunting safety in recent years.
Airport Highway is open after being closed for roughly 5 hours Monday afternoon. Fire crews were still on the scene late into the night keeping a close watch to make sure nothing sparked up again.
