OSHA launches investigation after Harrisburg fire

(Harrisburg) — A fire ripped through a group of properties in Harrisburg this week, causing nearly $4 million in damage, and nowthe employer is under investigation by a federal agency.

Harrisburg’s acting fire chief Brian Enterline filed the complaint with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Wednesday.

Harrisburg’s Deputy Codes Director David Patton says it appears there’s no electricity or bathrooms at the site, and there are also concerns about fumes and contaminants.

OSHA sent an inspector to the site at 724 South Cameron Street Thursday, and the investigation is continuing.

The OSHA Director for the Harrisburg area, Kevin Kilp, says its inspector on the case is meeting with Nicholas Perakis, the owner of the property.

“At that point, we would ask the employer certain questions related to the complaint, and also probably be requesting certain documents at that time, and then we would move forward with the rest of the investigation.”

Kilp wouldn’t predict how the long investigation might take.

‘It would be impossible to say at this point. It’s very early in the investigation. The length of any investigation is really dependent upon the complexity and at this point, it would just be too early to even guess.”

But, he says OSHA has legally has up to six months.

Fines can reach up to $7,000 per serious violation. Kilp says OSHA can also issue a “hazard alert letter” that’s designed to alert employers to potential hazards that could become violations in the future.

Multiple phone calls to Perakis have not been returned. He has vowed to rebuild the site.

Other buildings affected include a bingo hall that fronts Cameron Street, and a restaurant that took smoke and water damage. The Volunteers of America warehouse also at the site sustained significant damage, and the group is accepting donations at 675 Silver Spring Road, Mechanicsburg, to replace the goods lost in the fire.