KENT, Ohio — The flames have been extinguished as crews begin their work to assess the damage left behind after an intense fire ripped through Kent's oldest building Friday.
Firefighters responded to the scene -- the Star of the West Mill -- at 162 North Water Street around 8:45 a.m. amid reports of black smoke coming from the structure.
Two firefighters sustained minor injuries amid an explosion at the scene, blowing out the windows on the front of the building.
"The other firefighters in the street were able to take cover from the falling brings and debris," the Kent Fire Department shared on Facebook. "The explosion separated the roof from the sidewalls of the building in some areas."
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Kent Fire Department, State of Ohio Fire Marshal’s Office and ATF.
Fire crews from Stow, Tallmadge, Ravenna, Rootstown, Cuyahoga Falls and Hudson were set up around the perimeter of the building in order to contain and extinguish the fire.
The city also asked those in the area to minimize their water usage to give crews enough supply to battle the blaze.
Other fire departments that assisted at the scene include: Streetsboro, Brimfield, Ravenna Township, Munroe Falls and Suffield.
Editor's note: Video in the player above was originally published in a previous story on Dec. 2, 2022.