Fire Chief Jeff Bacon told The Herald News on Monday that neither building severely damaged in a devastating fire downtown last week had fire suppression sprinklers.

 

The Columbian Building at the corner of South Main and Rodman streets caught fire around 10 p.m. on the night of Wednesday, Sept. 23. The fire raged through the largely vacant property into early Thursday morning, with hotspots continuing to flare up into Friday.

 

The fire and partial demolition of the historic Columbian Building at 308-318 S. Main, and its neighbor at 298 S. Main, has left a gaping, rubble-filled hole in one of downtown Fall River’s busiest intersections.

 

The fire’s cause is under investigation. Fall River interim Police Chief J.T. Hoar told The Herald News the matter is considered suspicious and is being investigated as an arson.

 

The fire destroyed the Columbian Building, constructed in 1892. It was once home to event halls, a dancing school and a music store. More recently, the building had been largely unused, owned by River Town Realty LLC but recently taken by the city for non-payment of taxes.

 

The Rodman Street side of the building had been home to LevelUp, a barbershop. An apartment above the barbershop was reportedly occupied, according to a city official; it is unclear if this person was authorized to live there.

 

Next door at 298 S. Main was home to Pawtucket Pawn Brokers. In that same building was card and hobby shop Two Lucky Collectibles.

 

The building was partially demolished on Friday night, on a particularly fast timeline.

 

City Director of Inspectional Services Glenn Hathaway said that was partially done to reach parts of the building that continued to flare up and smolder even despite the Fire Department’s dumping of thousands of gallons of water on it.

 

See more at heraldnews.com.