'We will survive': Kamper City picks up the pieces after fire guts service bays
A fiery blaze tore through a warehouse full of RVs and tools at the Peninsula RV dealership Kamper City in the early morning hours of Dec. 17 as its workers slept. No one was injured, but a slew of RVs and tools were destroyed.
The business is closed every Sunday, Operation Manager Paul Baker explained, so no one saw the blaze until it was too late.
Valley Fire District received calls from passersby on state Route 8 who saw smoke billowing from the roof, Chief Charles Reidel said. When fire crews arrived at the scene by 7 a.m., the warehouse was engulfed in flames.
With the help of nearby departments that brought in water tankers, firefighters contained the fire and put it out by 8:30 a.m., he said.
Once the smoke cleared, Baker, an employee of 23 years, and his co-workers at the family-owned business assessed the damage.
"It was a total loss," he said. The structure that was once used to repair and maintain RVs for customers was a burnt pile of rubble and warped metal. Estimated damages could exceed $1 million.
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Despite the damage and the setback to their service department, Baker and the dealership owners are confident they will rebound from this setback.
Untouched by the fire is the mobile shower Kamper City is working on with Forever R Children, a nonprofit that aims to help disadvantaged residents in Akron.
The fire remains under investigation by both state and local authorities, Riedel said.
Picking up the pieces
Although insurance will cover most of the costs, Baker said this loss will put their operations behind, especially in the warmer months when business picks up.
Maintenance and repairs are a major part of their business that they cannot afford to lose, he explained. In the days immediately after the fire, he and his team tore down their show floor and turned it into impromptu service bays.
"It's going to be another full-time job," he said of months ahead, which will include rebuilding the service warehouse.
It'll take time and money to replace the 5,000-square-foot warehouse with five service bays. Baker estimated it could take between 6 and 12 months to rebuild.
Despite this loss, Baker and his co-workers are optimistic about the future. After all, the 53-year-old dealership has survived so much.
"We survived everything like COVID and the economic crisis," he said. "We know we will rebuild. We will survive."
After the fire tore through the building, Baker said the business received kind words and offers of support from friends, family, nearby businesses and long-time customers.
Some offered to help pick up the pieces while others brought in fresh coffee, a small but significant sign of support, he said.
"I want to thank the community for all of their offers of help and all of the kind words," Baker said.
He said the best way to help their business is to keep coming back.
"We can still stand on our own two feet, and we are open for business," Baker said.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Kamper City rebuilds after catastrophic fire last weekend
