Cause of USDA fire determined to be electrical

by Peter Jakey, Managing Editor

Fire investigators believe an overheated florescent light ballast caused the destructive fire at the Presque Isle-Cheboygan Farm Service Agency (FSA) office, commonly known as the USDA building, on M-33, March 26.

Presque Isle County Sheriff?s Department fire investigator John Kasuba and the insurance company?s fire investigator Mark Strange met at the site, April 7, and together determined that the bottom of a truss caught fire where the light fixture was attached.

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?An employee had mentioned she had smelled smoke, but they couldn?t locate the origin of it,? said Kasuba. ?Once it got through the wood and spread, there was so much heat and smoke from the foam installation, it spread quickly.?

Kasuba credited the Onaway Fire Department for its quick actions in knocking it down, which preserved a lot of the evidence.

Plans are moving forward to find temporary office space in Onaway, before a permanent location is secured. FSA employees from the Onaway office are currently operating out of the Petoskey office.

Ken Szymoniak and Kevin Freel own the building.

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