Smoke was still rising this morning from some hot spots within the burned-out ruins of All American Awards Inc. in the heart of this Clinton County town.
A fire broke out shortly before 6 p.m. Thursday in the one-story brick building with a basement – and authorities have yet to start looking for a cause of the blaze.
“They’re thinking it came from a back electric room,” said Mike Lueken, who co-owns the 18-year-old company with Lenny Herr.
“There’s no evidence of foul play. Nothing has been ruled out. I’m sure we’re going to be here all day,” said Tim Murray, an arson investigator with the state fire marshal’s office, which was called to the scene. “We have to render the building safe, put the fire out and then we can go in a find a cause, which is going to be very difficult with the amount of damage.”
Ron Kaser, chief of the Madison Township Fire Department, said two firefighters were taken to a hospital Thursday. One for treatment of a head injury when debris from the burning building struck, one and heat related problems. Names of the firefighters were not available this morning, but the chief said the injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.
All American Awards specializes in etching metal and sells items that include plaques, trophies and hall of fame memorial walls.
While operating a retail store in downtown Lafayette, at the production facility in Mulberry the company annually produced a small etched plaque that contains the logo of the Super Bowl and the name, position and number of each referee who takes part in professional football’s biggest game. The plaque is placed in the lid of an oak box that contains a gold-plated whistle given to each referee.
Approximately a dozen people worked at the Mulberry facility, and those jobs might disappear.
“There’s about $400,000 worth of equipment and inventory in there. If we had to replace it we’d spend three times that,” said Lueken this morning.
“It’s scary being a father and not knowing where I’m going to be in a month or a year,” said Derek Maish, who has worked for the company the past four years.
