Bulldog Motorsports destroyed by fire
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NEGLEY -- Firefighters from three local departments battled a blaze overnight in Negley that destroyed Bulldog Motorsports.
Middleton Township Fire Chief Kurt Todd said a passerby spotted the fire and called the fire department at about 12:55 a.m., but by the time the first firefighters arrived flames were shooting through the roof.
Todd also said they have received numerous calls from neighbors, who reported hearing an explosion before the fire began.
Firefighters from Middleton Township, East Palestine and New Waterford worked through the night to knock down the fire. Only a short distance from the Negley fire station, Todd said firefighters had a ready source of water to work from, an 18,000 gallon tank buried underground in front of the station.
The business, which sells parts and services ATVs and motorcycles, is owned by one of the firefighters, Steve Yanni. It was insured, but Todd said everything inside was lost.
Firefighters had to return twice throughout the day in order to address the hot spots, which continued to flare. The building contained many tires and oil which are both items that are more difficult to extinguish.
County fire investigators and an investigator from the state fire marshal's office were in Negley Thursday to look for a cause of the fire, which Todd said remains under investigation, although nothing suspicious is suspected.
djohnson@mojonews.com