ONTARIO, Ohio – A fully involved fire at a residence in Springfield Township on Friday afternoon resulted in no injuries, but heavy fire damage to the home left a family without a place to live.
Springfield Township Fire Department responded to 95 Hilltop Road on Friday afternoon for a fire that originated in the garage. Fire Chief Ron Henry said an off-duty firefighter was close by and able to respond to the scene within two minutes to report it was a working fire.
“The fire was very heavily coming out of the garage overhead door,” said Henry.
Natasha Porter of 45 Hilltop Road said the fire was so involved she was able to clearly see flames from her house.
“We were in the driveway cleaning out the car and happened to hear the fire trucks coming and looked up, and there was nothing but a big cloud of smoke with flames as high as the trees,” she said. “It was very scary.”
According to property owner Ethel Musick, the home at 95 Hilltop is occupied by a family of four – two adults, two children, and a dog. She noted the family has lived in the home for many years.
“The occupants did make it out, the mother had a little bit of smoke inhalation but not too bad,” said Henry. “Our first engine here attacked it with a lot of water very fast and targeted it down very effectively; then crews went inside to make sure it had not extended into the attic.”
Henry said the cause of the fire is still under investigation but he was confident the start of the fire was in the garage. Fire damage was mostly contained to the garage area, including structural elements, but Henry said the remainder of the house suffered very heavy smoke damage.
“The family has declined Red Cross assistance, but the house will not be inhabitable for quite some time,” he said.
Madison Township, Mansfield Fire and Troy Township provided mutual aid to the fire, and Ontario Police provided traffic control.
