SALAMANCA — A fire believed to be the work of vandals Friday raced through the vacant Fancher Furniture Co. and damaged at least two other buildings, one an active factory, on Rochester Street in the city's industrial area.

State fire investigators from Montour Falls were called to investigate the cause of the

fire, which broke out about 5:30 p.m. at the east end of the old Fancher site, currently owned

by the Seneca Nation of Indians.

Gallery: Photos of the Salamanca fire

The building was nearly empty, its machinery sold last year, yet the fire found enough

combustibles inside to burn its way through the corridors of the four-story structure. The

entire south wall facing railroad tracks and the city Municipal Center collapsed about 6:55

p.m.

With the wind whipping to attention, the fire humped across the street to 123 Rochester, a

former Fancher's warehouse, also owned by the Senecas. Officials believe a tunnel used to move

furniture and workers from one plant to another may have spread the flames.

The fire also spread to 115 Rochester and destroyed the headquarters for Luminite Products,

which designs laser-engraved wallpaper rolls.

Firefighters battled winds as they struggled to save Salamanca Lumber, next to Luminite, by

pouring water on the site — its yards full of stacked lumber.

Homes north of the site on Elm Street were evacuated and several fire companies were sent

to nearby North Mountain where sparks ignited grass fires. Black smoke was visible over the

city and for miles around.

Electricity was out in the west end of the city, and authorities were worried about water

loss. Pumpers were sent to Kill Buck for water and hoses were laid to the Allegany River. Cell

phone service also was out.

Cattaraugus County fire control in Little Valley called on the county's entire firefighting

capabilities as the flames spread.

Radios crackled with the message, "Send all you can get."

Mayor Jeff Pond and City Attorney Ross Peters were on the scene as the fire jumped across

Rochester Street.

"There was just no stopping it," Pond said.

The mayor and attorney were in City Hall when the fire broke out. Pond said, "We were just

writing a letter to the Seneca's attorney asking them again to secure the building. They have

responded in the past. Now it's too late.

Pond declared a state of emergency about 7:45 p.m.

"It is not known what type of chemicals are burning at these industrial sites," he said.

"We are expecting high winds during the next 12 hours."

The declaration will allow police to set curfews and direct sightseers away from the fire

scene that enveloped nearly half the industrial district. The declaration will also make the

city eligible for any type of aid that may be available. The Salvation Army was called in for

assistance, and local restaurants were donating food.

By 8:45 p.m. firefighters were putting out spot fires in what was left of the buildings and

heeding warnings that magnesium was present at one site. At 9:30 p.m., the fire was declared

under control.

The buildings and 5.81-acre site are owned by the Senecas, who bought them Dec. 31 through

a city tax sale for $62,000.

In 2008, Grandview Group of Jamestown purchased the building from Philadelphia Furniture

Manufacturing Co. and failed to pay property taxes, sending the site into foreclosure and

eventual takeover by the Senecas.

Philadelphia Furniture Manufacturing purchased the working assets of Fancher Furniture Co.

on Feb. 25, 1996, and Fancher was formally dissolved June 9, 2003.

Fancher Furniture Co. was founded in 1911 and Salamanca was incorporated as a city in 1913.

At a stockholders meeting Feb. 19, 1941, C. Leonard Erickson was elected and began

acquiring shares until in June 1944 when he became president of Fancher's. The factory made

radio cabinets for Admiral, General Electric and Sylvania. Fancher's became well known for its

manufacturing of piano and organ cases for Baldwin Piano, Hammond Organ and Wurlitzer. Sewing

machine cases were made for Singer and White.

Residential furniture was made for many companies including Pennsylvania House, Ethan

Allen, Drexel Heritage, Ikea and Kittinger Furniture.

At its peak years around 1971, Fancher's employed around 800 workers.

As years progressed Fancher's became known for turning out furniture for the

hotel/hospitality industry. Some of its customers were: Marriott Hotels, Four Season hotels

and several hotels in Las Vegas. One of the most recent production lines at the factory

provided furniture for the Seneca Allegany Casino, about five years ago.

The last major furniture factory fire in the city's industrial area on Rochester Street

occurred Jan. 23, 1976, when the four-story Taylor Division of Ethan Allen Inc. building

burned after sparks from a power saw started the fire in a pile of sawdust.

100 Rochester St., Salamanca

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