Fire likely set - Hutchinson
Inspector: Arson view is based on lack of ignition source at building corner
Hutchinson News - June 17, 2009

A fire that destroyed a downtown Hutchinson building and damaged two others is being investigated as arson, a Hutchinson Fire Department official said.

Loyal Peevyhouse, a fire inspector, said the March 25 three-alarm fire that started on the second floor of Luxury Kitchen and Bath, 204 N. Main St., likely was set.

He said the fire department has no suspects and does not believe the arson to be connected to any other cases.

Ted Nieciecki, who owns the building, is not a suspect, Peevyhouse said. Nieciecki and his wife, Dixie, were asleep in the building's second-story loft apartment when the fire broke out.

Peevyhouse said it is not clear whether the arson was random or targeted.

Several weeks ago, debris from the fire, which caused $400,000 of damage to Luxury Kitchen and Bath and two connecting buildings, was sent to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation to test for accelerants. No accelerants were found.

However, fire inspectors still believe arson to be the cause of the blaze because the fire started on the exterior of the northeast corner of the building, where there was no "ignition source" - or nothing on the outside or the inside of the wall that could've started the fire, Peevyhouse said.

The Hutchinson Fire Department is encouraging anyone who has information about the fire to call 911 or the fire department at (620) 694-2874.

Affected businesses

The loft above his Main Street business had been a longtime dream for Ted Nieciecki.

The couple was spending their third night in the recently completed second-story residence when they awoke to crackling sounds and flames leaping up the wall of their master suite.

The Niecieckis escaped injury, but the fire totaled their home, business and most of their belongings.

Over the past month, Nieciecki has removed debris from his property, but he has not yet decided whether he'll try to renovate the building.

"I haven't made up my mind yet," he said, adding that the arson investigation doesn't change his insurance coverage or his thinking on whether he'll rebuild. "I'm letting it rest for awhile."

Currently, Nieciecki is running his kitchen and bath business out of his home.

The fire also caused serious damage to the O'Hairas building, which adjoins Luxury Kitchen and Bath to the north.

O'Hairas owner Lori Wright said knowing the fire was set makes it more difficult to accept the damage.

"We had just put a brand new salon in the back of the building," she said. "We'd only been in it for three days, so it is very difficult knowing it was all in vain."

Currently, all the interior walls and many ceilings have been knocked out of the O'Hairas building and the rebuilding process should start soon, Wright said.

Wright said she is working to preserve the front room of the building, which is the most historic part of the building.

Wright has decided not to move her hair salon, Tesori gift shop or wedding décor rental businesses back into the building. However, she hopes to sell or rent the space once the rebuilding process is complete.

The fire also caused damage to the B.C. Christopher building, which adjoined Luxury Kitchen and Bath to the south and housed multiple offices. At the time of the fire, building owner Jim Strawn estimated damages throughout the building at $50,000, primarily from smoke.

Strawn was unavailable Wednesday to comment on the arson investigation.