LENOX TOWNSHIP —
Five people were left homeless Monday afternoon as fire ripped through a two story home at 1861 Footville Richmond Road.
Ernie Sherman, owner of the house, watched as firefighters attempted to bring the massive blaze under control. He said he found out about the fire when his son called him while he was in Ashtabula.
“We bought this place in 1990,” Sherman said. The home and contents were destroyed.
Firefighters were able to protect two campers, a vehicle and a motorcycle that were fairly close to the home.
Kurtiss Taggart, Sherman’s grandson, said he was driving home from school at A-Tech in Jefferson Township when he saw all the fire engines surrounding his home.
Nobody was home at the time of the fire but a dog is missing, Sherman said.
Jefferson Fire Chief John Wayman said the home was fully involved when he arrived on the scene. He said firefighters from Rome and Dorset fire departments provided water to fight the wire.
Wayman said about a dozen Jefferson firefighters fought the blaze. He said the cause of the fire is unknown.
“We have no clue. We probably never will,” Wayman said, explaining the property was so badly damaged that it was structurally diminished to the point it was unsafe to enter.
“It’s a total loss,” Wayman said. He said damage estimates were not available Monday.
Theresa Coladangelo, a next-door neighbor, was one of the first to notice the fire. “I came out to dump some hot ash and I saw flames coming from the front of the house and called 911,” she said.
Friends of Kurtiss stood along Footville Richmond Road watching firefighters.
“I drove by and I saw the house was on fire so I drove straight here,” said Ronnie Kaydo. He said Coladangelo had already called the fire department.
Traffic along Footville Richmond Road was blocked by fire engines for more than an hour after the fire call was placed at 2:11 p.m.
Local News
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WARREN DILLAWAY / Star Beacon FIVE PEOPLE were left homeless Monday afternoon when fire ripped through a home at 1861 Footville Richmond Road in Lenox Township.
Discussion
5 homeless
No clue to cause of massive Lenox blaze
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