There are plans to clean up the site of the old Crawford Furniture Factory in Jamestown, which was destroyed by a fire in November.

Sen. Chuck Schumer is asking the Federal Environmental Protection Agency to launch a full investigation into how the fire started.

“Given the city’s deep and storied history in our nation’s furniture-making business, the Crawford Furniture Factory was a beating heart for Jamestown, but for too long this hazardous crumbling building has sat as an eyesore, and as the recent fire showed its continued presence only puts our public health and environment at risk. Jamestown is doing everything it can, but the cost of cleanup should not fall on local taxpayers for this contaminated site,” said Sen. Schumer. “That is why we need a full investigation and to move quickly and efficiently towards a Superfund cleanup action, drawing on the historic funding I secured in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to make this hazardous relic of the past into a site of new development and growth for Jamestown’s future.”

He says $5 billion has been set aside for the EPA's critical Brownfields and Superfund programs, and a superfund tax was also reinstated to ensure long-term funding for cleanups like this.

“I would like to thank Senator Schumer for his support in trying to secure funding through the EPA for our cleanup of the 1061 Allen Street site”, said Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist. “Thanks to the brave work of our Jamestown Fire Department and our mutual aid partners, we were able to extinguish the fire with no serious injuries and minimal damage to surrounding businesses. This devastating fire was something that no municipality can truly prepare for. Funds for cleanup will help us recover and help ensure that our residents aren’t on the hook for the irresponsible actions of the owner of the building.”

Schumer says the EPA needs to step in because of how quickly the building burned.