Fire’s out at former Beckett Paper Mill building in Butler County; investigation begins

BUTLER COUNTY — UPDATE @ 9:10 p.m.

The large fire is out at the former Beckett Paper Mill building in Hamilton, which was vacant, City Manager Craig Bucheit said via X (the former Twitter).

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There have been no reports of injuries, he said, lauding the work of Hamilton firefighters and police as well as help from Fairfield, and the townships of Liberty and Ross in keeping the public and surrounding property safe.

Firefighters were dispatched to the the north side of the huge four-story building, North 5th and Dayton streets about 4:52 p.m.

Our news partners at wcpo.com report that city leaders announced in May 2022 a $50 million development of what was left of the building. City Public Safety Director Scott Scrimizzi said the train tracks alongside the building were shut down until the building comes down, whether by itself or with the help of a demolition company.

The city will bring in an emergency demolition crew and the hope is that the building will be razed in the next 12 hours, he said.

Firefighters likely will be putting water on the building overnight until it comes down, Scrimizzi said.

An investigation into the cause and manner of the fire will follow.

EARLIER REPORT

Firefighters are battling a large, smoky fire at a building believed to be what is left of the former Beckett Paper Mill in Hamilton.

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Firefighters were dispatched on the first alarm about 4:52 p.m. Wednesday to a four-story structure at North 5th and Dayton streets. We’re hearing the fourth floor of the structure has collapsed onto nearby railroad tracks.

There have been no reports of injuries from Butler County Fire Dispatch.

City Manager Craig Bucheit is reporting that Martin Luther King Boulevard, between High and Dayton streets, is closed until further notice.

Hamilton Professional Fire Fighters IAFF Local 20 issued this plea for people to avoid the area because of the fire:

The former paper mill caught fire at least twice -- in November 2015 and February 2022.

We’re working to learn more about the fire and we will update this developing report.

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