John Nance was a 51-year-old firefighter with the Columbus Division of Fire when he died on July 26, 1987, fighting a three-alarm blaze at the Mithoff Building, 155 North High Street in Columbus, Ohio. Nance fell through the first floor into the basement, where gasoline had been used to start the fire, and despite repeated rescue attempts by colleagues including Lt. Vic Runkle, he succumbed to his injuries.

Investigators determined the fire to be arson and believed it was likely set for insurance fraud, but interviews with multiple suspects failed to produce an identified perpetrator. Nance’s death prompted the creation of the Nance Drill or Nance Maneuver, a rescue training exercise taught to firefighters to address colleagues falling through floors; his fire station displays a plaque and photographs in his memory.

Does anyone have information about the Mithoff Building fire or contacts who were involved in the original investigation?