Large fire destroys Tiffin business

TIFFIN - Investigators aren't ready to say what caused a fire that destroyed a warehouse building in Tiffin.

Fire crews were first called to the scene shortly before 9:30 Wednesday night after witnesses reported seeing flames coming from Freeman Construction off Greenfield Drive, just North of Interstate 80 in Johnson County.

“When we arrived, it was fully engulfed,” said Tiffin Fire Chief Brian Detert. “No amount of water would have helped us save the building, it was too far gone.”

The owner of the business, Chad Freeman, said the building is a complete loss. Freeman will meet with insurance agents Thursday afternoon.

“Chad's been here quite a while, and is a significant member of our community, so this is a big loss to him,” said Tiffin Mayor Royce Phillips. “It is a blow to Chad and his business as a whole.”

The fire caused an estimated $750,000 in total damage, Detert said. Fortunately, much of the equipment owned by Freeman Construction wasn't in the warehouse because it is currently being used at nearby job sites.

While the fire department won't guess at what caused the fire, Freeman said he believes a truck engine may have exploded inside the warehouse.

“It's only speculation,” he said. “But this would have been a lot worse in the winter.”

Phillips said the city is currently in the process of adding a water main and fire hydrants in area. There are a handful of other warehouses in the business park on Greenfield Drive.

“One of our priorities is to get water out here, and this just underscores how important that is,” said Phillips.

10 fire departments responded to the fire Wednesday night.

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