Levin Service Company President Greg Dove told vendors there was smoke damage “throughout the entire building,” and in order to “rehabilitate” the market, all vendor merchandise, fixtures and personal items would have to be removed from every booth in every building.
“It’s heartbreaking,” Dove said, adding that he had no estimate in damage costs yet. “We have to get all seven buildings stripped, scrubbed and all the booths reconstructed.”
Dove said he was told by the Westfield Insurance Group’s fire investigator that the fire was a “nonmarket related fire,” meaning it had nothing to do with the building.
“That is all I know,” Dove said.
State Fire Marshal investigators found no evidence of criminal intent in the fire, which originated in the main building.
The market was built in 1978 and acquired by Levin Service Co. in 1982. It draws approximately 10,000 people each weekend from a 50-mile radius.
This is the second time Levin Services has dealt with a devastating fire.
In 2008, a fire at Treasure Aisles in Monroe, formerly known as Turtle Creek Flea Market, destroyed nearly half of the 126,000-square-foot facility and caused an estimated $2.8 million in damage.
“We’ve learned a bunch of to-dos and not-to-dos,” Dove said. “We have the experience of having gone through this before, but that is not the kind of experience anybody wants.”
Dove said all inside vendors will be provided storage units at no charge, which will allow them to keep their merchandise in a secure container on site.
Dove also said that inside vendors will be given free outside spaces so they can continue operating their businesses beginning this weekend.
“We are doing everything we can to help the vendors,” Dove said, adding that the market will be open with free admission from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. “We are alive and well and we want people to know that.”
A Vendor Recovery Fund has been established to accept donations for vendors that did not have insurance. Donations can be dropped off at any Lebanon Citizens National Bank or at the ticket booths at Caesar Creek Flea Markets and Treasure Aisles.
Franklin resident Nichole Back, who just opened her Back Country Store booth for the first time two weekends ago, considered herself fortunate as she packed items into her truck.
“As long as it isn’t pouring rain, we’ll be here this weekend,” Back said. “You can’t let this knock you down. If you gave up every time you hit a bump in the road, you wouldn’t do anything.”
Back just moved into her booth located in the main aisle near building No. 7. The first weekend she was open, she was located “right in the middle” of where the fire was.
“I feel terrible for the ones who lost everything,” Back said. “We’ve only been here a short time, but we’ve gotten to know a lot of the people and they’ve all been great.
“People could have been hurt,” she added. “This is just material things. It’s just a joy while we’re here.”
Sylvia Harmeling of Xenia was shocked when she arrived at the market.
“I just brought cleaning stuff,” Harmeling said as she wrapped items in newspaper to load into her truck. “I knew it was bad, but I never expected it to be this bad.”
Dove said reconstruction plans are under way, but there is no time line on when the building might reopen.
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