FIRE LETTER CITY OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS
t BUILDING DEPARTMENT
120 WASHINGTON STREET,3"n FLOOR
TEL. (978) 745-9595
KIMBERLEY DRISCOLL FAX(978)740-9846
MAYOR THOMAS STTIERRE
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROPERTY/BUILDING COMMISSIONER
January 25, 2018
1 am writing to you to inform you an account of the damages to Ken Rothwell's Custom/Catering/Ken's
Kickin'Chicken from the fire at Ideal Transmission as I witnessed.
My name is Thomas St. Pierre and I am the Building Inspector for the City of Salem. On the night of
September 6., 2017 there was a fire at 9 Franklin Street,Salem, Ma. It was a 3 alarm fire. The back side
of KRCC/KKC is approximately 6 inches to 1 foot away from the structure of Ideal Transmission. There
were 2 fire engines that were attempting to gain control of the flames. This went on for many hours.
The positioning of the fire engines and the way the wind was blowing caused the water to spray directly
on the building in which KRCC/KKC has their business.
I was present at Ideal Transmission at the time of the fire. During that time, I went over to KRCC/KKC to
assess the buildings that were effected as a result of the fire. Upon entering the 7 Franklin Street Units
5 &6; KRCC/KKC, I found the building was filled with smoke and there was water pouring down the
back wall. The back wall is the wall that was exposed to the fire on the outside of building. At that time
the floor had approximately 3 inches of water throughout the building. More in some areas. I
instructed Ken Rothwell to leave his business as it was not safe for him to be present at that time. I
instructed him to return the next morning with me to review the damages and wait for instruction of
what to do.
The following morning, I entered the building with Ken Rothwell to assess the damages. The building
was filled with smoke and the floor was covered with water.The supplies stored on the wall that is the
back side of the building, were completely saturated from the water. Equipment and supplies
throughout the building were covered with soot from the fire. The water went throughout the entire
building and into the office as well. Some areas had pooled up where the floor dips and water had been
pouring out under the overhead garage doors on both ends of the building. I instructed Ken Rothwell
that he could not conduct business or have employees return to work until the building was
professionally cleaned. In addition, I let him know that the Health Department had to be contacted to
review the situation and advise him of what needed to be done prior to resuming business. I informed
him that once the cleaning had been completed the Health Department and I would need to return to
approve that the building was safe and he could reopen the doors.
This process lasted approximately 2 weeks. I inspected the business and approved that he could reopen
the business in conjunction with the Board of Health.
Thomas St Pierre
Building Commissioner,City of Salem