Four-alarm fire strikes Ottawa factory building

8/24/2003

OTTAWA, Ohio — Firefighters from five departments responded to a four-alarm blaze last night at an old manufacturing plant in Ottawa, off U.S. 224.

Fire officials said the blaze at the 340,000-square-foot former Louisiana-Pacific Corp. plant started in the roof at about 7:55 p.m. No one was hurt and the fire was contained at about 9:30 p.m.

Details about the blaze remained sketchy last night. Fire departments from Ottawa, Glandorf, Kalida, Gilboa, and Pandora were at the scene.

Martin Kuhlman, director of the Putnam County Economic Development office, said the structure was purchased in June by Northwest Warehousing, a group out of Pandora. Mr. Kuhlman said the group had planned to use the factory for distribution and light manufacturing.

The factory, which had been closed for about a year, made windows for homes.