Costs for reparations could reach $1 million for the fire that
damaged three commercial buildings in downtown Salamanca, N.Y., on
Friday.

“Right now it could be anywhere between $500,000 dollars and $1
million,” estimated Mayor Jeffrey Pond on Tuesday.

The blaze that destroyed Philadelphia Furniture Co., and the
neighboring Luminite Product Corp., on Rochester Street, continues
to be an ongoing battle for Salamanca city officials aiming to
place an accurate price tag on the damage.

“Currently, road repair is looking like the highest cost,” said
Pond. “The blacktop is completely gone, burning bricks fell into
the road.”

According to Pond, the reconstruction will include replacing six
telephone poles that were damaged, replacing wires and
transformers, as well as replacing all fire equipment which was
compromised while battling the flames. 

“We’re going to have to replace any equipment which could have
been damaged during the incident,” Pond said. “Anything that gets
ruined will be replaced.”

Costs are also being taken into consideration for the
compensation of public works and the Board of Public Utilities
workers, among other laborers, according to Pond.

Several surrounding businesses remain at a standstill as
employees wait to return to the workplace.

“Our biggest thing to do today (Tuesday) was to get Verizon out
here to restore Internet and phone service,” Pond said, referring
to businesses affected by the Friday fire. “There are well over 100
jobs on hold right now because of it.”

Pond also noted that a future site for the Luminite Product
Corp. has been identified. Further information regarding the exact
location of the new site was unavailable at press time.