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Thursday, June 22, 1995, p. 1.

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Arson suspected in Monticello fire

By TOM RUE


MONTICELLO - A four-alarm blaze hit Monticello's central business district, sweeping three shops and damaging at least two others during pre-dawn hours of June 19.
The report came in at 12:38 A.M., a firefighter said.
No fatalities or injuries were reported.
Arson is suspected, a release issued by Monticello police said, which described the fire as "incendiary in nature." A police dog was used in the state and county investigation, the release said.
Police said the fire was first reported at 299 Broadway. The rear of the building was found engulfed in flames. The fire then spread to other businesses.
Village residents noticed sporadic power loss throughout the morning. The scene was still smoking heavily twelve hours later.
Heavily damaged were Nu Design Furniture, Off Limits Jewelry, and Brenner Income Tax Center at 299, 301 and 303 Broadway, across from St. Peter's Church. Triple Check Income Tax and the Bagel Bakery were hit by smoke damage.
Nu Design Furniture appeared in the worst shape.
Davco's True Value, 305 Broadway, was downwind of the fire and suffered only slight smoke damage, said owner Abe Davidoff. He said he was closed Monday because electric service was off and the building next door was unstable.
Davidoff commended village police and firefighters for their courage and courtesy. Davidoff said he hoped to reopen June 21.
"It's a total loss for everybody. That building is coming down," said Lina Escobar, daughter of jewelry store owner Bernardo Escobar who stated he was notified of the fire around 12:30 A.M. when a friend called him.
The structure dating back to the 1920s -- known as the Diamond Building -- is owned by Fouad Kerendian of Monticello.
Kerendian also owns Nu Design Furniture. He said his employees will be out of work about a week until being situated temporarily in new quarters. "The community has been really nice to us for nine years and we're going to stick with it," Kerendian said.
But Kerendian said he did not yet know where he would reopen.
He said the other businesses affected by the fire are "mostly self-employed." Kerendian described damage to the building as complete, with demolition slated to start Monday afternoon.
Eleven companies were called, with the furthest being from Middletown, a Monticello firefighter said.
Anyone with information which might aid arson investigators is asked to call Monticello police at 794-4422, or a confidential hotline at 794-TIPS.
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The above unpublished photo was taken the morning after the above described fire by Tom Rue. (Click to enlarge.)