A fire that destroyed the historic Wendell August Forge near Grove City over the weekend has been ruled accidental.

Grove City fire Chief Jeff Badger said Monday the blaze appears to have started just before 2 p.m. Saturday in a ventilation fan in use while a worker sprayed lacquer on bronze pieces that had been fabricated at the forge.

Firefighters from four counties responded to the blaze, but they were unable to stop the fire before at least half of the building collapsed.

Customers and workers all left the facility safely, and no injuries were reported.

Chief Badger said the total destruction makes it nearly impossible to search for any other possible cause of the fire.

The forge, founded in 1923 in Jefferson County, moved to its Grove City location in 1934.

The company's steel molds, or dies, used to shape and imprint the designs on the fabricated metals, all were recovered.

Company President Frank W. "Will" Knecht said the business will be rebuilt.

The forge's craftspersons make ornaments, trays, bowls, figurines and coasters.

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