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XENIA, Greene County — A malfunctioning copier and fax machine is to blame for a fire that started at a medical building in the 300 block of North Detroit Street, across from Shawnee Park.

The total estimated damage cost is believed to be approximately $175,000, according to Xenia Fire Chief Jeff Leaming. Approximately, $100,000 is the damage to the building.

The fire at 330/322 North Detroit St. was reported 7:07 a.m. The building has two levels, and fire officials believe the fire started on the first floor, inside the offices of Greene County Eye Care Inc.

“On arrival we had heavy fire on the main level and extending into the attic,” Leaming said Thursday at the scene.

The firefighters at first had an aggressive interior attack, but staffing levels caused them to pull back out of the structure.

“The fire was over our head and we couldn’t get to it. So we had to wait until the off-duty crews arrived before we could go back inside and finish attacking the fire,” Leaming said.

Dr. Stephen Taylor has a chiropractic business in the lower level of the building. Also, the building is home to the offices of Karen Knisely, a local esthetician.

Taylor said he experienced disbelief as he watched smoke coming out of a hole in the building.

“I’m trying to gather together what’s the next step, where do you go from here,” he said. Taylor has been at the North Detroit location for five years.

Dr. Lindsay Florkey said she was devastated after she learned about the fire, which occurred in her optometry practice.

“We’re a growing business, so this kind of dampens spirits a little bit,” she said.

The fire extensively damaged the main floor of the building, and the lower level had smoke and water damage.

“I believe they will be able to rehab the building and put it back in service with some extensive overhaul,” Leaming said.

The building has been at this location for 24 years, according to retired Dr. Stephen Wheeler, who owns the building.

“I feel so sorry for my tenants ... I don’t practice here anymore but they do,” Wheeler said. “I just feel sorry for them; they will have to find another branch to practice. This is where I first started out. It’s like losing part of your home.”

Mary Graham, an employee of Greene County Eye Care, said she started making calls to her co-workers when she arrived to the fire scene this morning.

“I was hoping that Dr. Taylor wasn’t downstairs because he usually beats me to work,” she said.

Dawn Webb, another employee of the optometry business, was hoping that nobody got hurt in the fire, before her thoughts turned to the patients.

“We want to make sure we can take care of them. Luckily, we have two other offices that we can get the other patients to go to,” she said. “Also, our jobs. Hopefully, we’ll have a place to come back to. It’s a little upsetting. Our doctor’s a great doctor. I hate to see her go through anything like that.”

Patients of Dr. Florkey will be referred to their offices in Cedarville (937) 766-2622 or Yellow Springs (937) 767-7991.
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