The Division of State Fire Marshal, along with the Howland Township Fire Department and the Bazetta Township Fire Department, announced that B.J. Alan Company's new fireworks storage and distribution facility is compliant with the Ohio Fire Code.
The facility was approved for occupancy. It ultimately will be comprised of three buildings - two warehouse and one office - on Larchmont Avenue.
''Last week we finished the project,'' Bill Weimer, vice president of B.J. Alan, said. ''The first of the two buildings is finished and we went through our tests.''
State Fire Marshal Larry Flowers has been working with both local fire departments to determine that the fire protection system at the facility has met or exceeded the fire code.
''Since last fall, the Howland Township Fire Department, Bazetta Township Fire Department and the Trumbull County Building Department have been working together with the B.J. Alan Company. We all share the same goal - the safety of the employees, firefighters and all member of the community,'' Flowers said in a news release.
According to Weimer, a steady stream of product has begun making its way from Youngstown to the new warehouse and more is coming.
With the first building finished and active, B.J. Alan is focusing on completing its second warehouse, which Weimer says will not be ready until June or July.
''The second building is taking a little more time because it's a taller building and the height you stack the product depends on the type of fire suppression system you have,'' he said, saying the sprinkler system in building two has to be replaced.
The third building for offices could be ready in the fall, which will bring new jobs into the area.
''It will happen. Right now, I'm sure there are a few additional jobs created by the warehouse, but the total impact on what we have presented won't really occur until we are done in the offices and both warehouses,'' Weimer said.
B.J. Alan is renovating the former Delphi Packard complex, which includes a 700,000-square-foot storage facility for its Phantom Fireworks business as well as 35,000 square feet of office space.
Once the renovations are complete, it's believed some 200 year-round and 50 to 70 seasonal jobs will be created.