MANSFIELD, Ohio — Mansfield Fire Department responded to a call Sunday afternoon at The Countertop Shop located on 132 Distl Avenue after a resident, Greg Toth, saw flames.
“I saw all these shadow looking things and came outside and saw it was smoke shadows. So I called it in,” said Toth. “The flames must have been 20 feet up in the branches, they were cooking. By the time they got here it had already gotten to the building.”
Fire engines one, two six and seven responded around 4:10 p.m. Rescue engines one, two and three responded as well.
Captain Doug Bruce of the Mansfield Fire Department said no persons were in the building and it was on fire for minutes before they arrived on the scene.
Bruce said the cause of the fire is suspicious. “Right now we have a brush fire in the back of the building, it’s suspicious. And it’s under control now,” said Bruce.
Owners Melodie and Rodney Schag came to scene shortly after the fire department responded. According to the couple they have owned it for 33 years.
“I think there were some kids behind the building playing with gas and fire,” said Melodie Schag.
“It’s not the first time we’ve had kids playing around back here. With 33 years you see a lot,” said Rodney Schag.
Bruce said the building suffered roof damage and interior attic damage. There are no suspects at this time, he said.
“It’s under investigation,” said Bruce.
“I think there were some kids behind the building playing with gas and fire,” said Melodie Schag.
