Because last Sunday’s blaze left a Center Avenue building unstable, Butler officials were able to move quickly to have it demolished.

City Councilwoman Kathy Kline, public safety director, said Capt. Kevin McAfee of the Butler Fire Department, who was the officer-in-charge at the scene, determined the building was a hazard due to the damage sustained from the flames.

“It was declared unstable,” Kline said. “You want to bring it down ASAP.”

She said AP Wise Excavating of Jefferson Township was chosen from a short list of contractors kept on hand for unforeseen problems.

“He’s very efficient,” Kline said. “He’s very quick. It’s all about public safety.”

Due to the structure being declared a hazard, the city was not required to go through a bidding process, Kline said.

Demolition of the three-story building at 339 Center Ave. began Tuesday. Center Avenue, which was temporarily closed to accommodate the demolition, was reopened to traffic Wednesday night.

“I am quite pleased with how quickly they got that site under control,” Kline said.

She said along with eliminating a safety hazard, the priority was reopening a state road. Center Avenue is Route 356.

Wise Excavating had five days to ensure the site was safe. It has additional time to haul away debris and backfill the lot.

The contractor agreed to raze the 127-year-old building, which formerly housed Hutch’s Diner and eight apartments, for an amount not to exceed $65,000.

Kline said there was a delay in moving forward early in the week due to a couple factors.

“There was confusion on Monday with who was going to do it,” she said.

Kline said Clair Boring, the building’s co-owner, initially wanted to hire a contractor directly.

She said that scenario would have worked, but the owner was not able to find a contractor that would be able to make the site safe soon enough.

“You have to have the right equipment,” Kline said.

Mayor Tom Donaldson questioned the demolition process, saying Wise seems to be used frequently by the city.

“I have been contacted by multiple contractors,” he said.

Kline said this situation was the first instance in which she had to select a demolition contractor.

According to Kline, the selection came down to availability and ability to do the job.

“No one else was guaranteeing getting it down in the time frame,” she said.

Donaldson said if there was such a rush to take down the building why wasn’t it started on the weekend.

“It wasn’t that dangerous,” he said. “We were not tearing it down Sunday night.”

Kline said Sunday night would have been premature to start.

“You have to wait until the material gets cold,” she said.

Kline said smoldering debris cannot be taken to a landfill.

Donaldson said he ensured additional contractors were called, but Wise was the only one able to do the work without a significant increase in cost.

The city won’t be paying the tab, though. Boring and co-owner Joe McKain’s insurer will.

Donaldson said that adds another wrinkle to the selection process.

“Let him (owner) pick the contractor,” he said. “This is the public trust again.”

Kline said if an owner would take too long tearing down a structure, there would be additional costs due to fines.

She questioned why Donaldson intervened.

“I’m not sure, to this date, why he got involved,” Kline said.

She said people compared the situation to the Worsley’s building, where a fire took place in March 2016, but demolition occurred in November.

Kline said the difference is the Worsley’s building was structurally sound following that fire.

“The Worsley’s building fire was horrific, but the building was still stable,” Kline said.