Clean up continues one year after massive Cortrim fire, and no cause has been determined

BRISTOL, Tenn. – Next week marks the one-year anniversary of the massive fire that destroyed the Aurora Casket Co. site off Virginia Avenue in southwest Bristol.

To date, investigators have no idea what caused the Nov. 23, 2006, blaze. The contractor hired to demolish and remove the rubble is months behind schedule and a possible lawsuit is on the horizon to recover damages caused to nearby properties.

In late September, Bristol attorney Daniel Coughlin began the process of getting damage estimates on nearby properties. He did so at the request of Ed King, whose home across the street was badly damaged. Several property owners now have joined King in seeking a settlement.

If that doesn’t happen, they’re prepared to go to court.

A few months ago, Coughlin said he believes the property owners have "a good case."

"I hope to have a settlement proposal to Aurora this week," Coughlin said Wednesday. "I can’t say what the deadline is for accepting that proposal, but it’s a short time."

Coughlin would not name the property owners involved or the estimated amount of damages, but he said he was prepared to file a suit on their behalf in Sullivan County General Sessions Court.

"He [Coughlin] told me that if Aurora does not accept the terms of the proposal by Thanksgiving – which would be the one-year anniversary of the fire – that he would file suit one week after that," Ed King said.

Dave Lane, Aurora spokesman, was not available for comment on Wednesday.

At the time of the fire, Aurora was using the 110,000-square-foot plant at Georgia Avenue and Oakwood Street primarily for lumber storage.

Aurora purchased the plant from Cortrim Hardwood Parts Co. in 2003.

The property is for sale, and several inquiries have been made to the Indiana-based company. But just who has an interest in acquiring the 17-acre parcel is unknown.

The investigation into the fire remains open, and Aurora has not been found legally liable for the damages. That fact caused claims negotiations between the company’s insurance carrier and the property owners to stall.

Meanwhile, demolition of the site has been under way since July. Aurora officials originally said it planned to have the site cleared by Aug. 31.

Lane said in September that Aurora had to wait longer than expected for the property to be released back to them and demolition could not begin until the on-site investigation into the fire concluded in July.

Blountville’s Taff & Frye Co. is under contract with Aurora to remove the debris, and level and seed the ground when removal is complete.

John Taff, the company’s owner, said last month that the contract with the company stipulates that the site be cleared and seeded by the end of October.

Taff said demolition has been slowed because he discovered about twice the amount of steel than he expected under the rubble.

On Wednesday, Taff was reached by telephone in South Dakota. He acknowledged his company might have to pay a certain amount in penalties for each day the demolition is not complete past the stipulated date.

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