ALLEN COUNTY, OH (WLIO) - Multiple fire departments responded to a two-alarm house fire in Allen County this afternoon.
Pictured: House fire on North Cool Road. Photo Date: December 5, 2024.
First responders got the call to 3025 North Cool Road just before 2 p.m. Thursday. On arrival they found flames coming from the eaves all around the structure. Crews had to deal with high winds and cold temperatures but were able to get inside to fight the fire before the roof began collapsing.
Pictured: House fire on North Cool Road. Photo Date: December 5, 2024.
"I was sitting in the front room watching tv and my smoke detectors started going off - I was checking to see what was going on with that, and about that time my neighbor across the road comes banging on my door and said, 'Your house is on fire," said homeowner Lewis Parker. "I worked my whole life for this and now I've lost everything. This is the second time this place has burnt down. My aunt and uncle owned it to start with, they had a house fire. They moved this in, now I've lost it."
The damage to the home and its contents is estimated to be around $325,000. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Pictured: House fire on North Cool Road. Photo Date: December 5, 2024.
December 5, 2024, Press Release from Chief Joseph Kitchen, Bath Township Fire Department: The Bath Township Fire Department responded to 3025 North Cool Road after receiving a 911 call for a house on fire at 1:48 P.M. on December 5, 2024.
Upon arrival, firefighters observed flames coming from the eaves on all four sides of the structure. Firefighters were able to make their way into the structure to extinguish the fire however, shortly thereafter, the roof began to collapse.
Fire officials estimate the damage to be approximately $250,000 to the house and an additional $75,000 to the contents. According to the owner, the property is insured.
This house is located in a non-hydrant area of Bath Township, and a rural water/tanker shuttle had to be established with mutual aid departments from around the county.
High winds and cold temperatures hindered extinguishment progress.
The occupant of the structure was home at the time and was able to escape after being notified by his neighbor that his house was on fire. There were no injuries to occupants or firefighters.
The exact cause of the fire has not yet been determined; however, it is not suspicious.
Additional apparatus and personnel responded to the scene from American Township Fire Department, Lima Fire Department, Perry Township Fire Department, Harrod Fire Department, Westminster Rural Fire Department, Cairo-Monroe Fire Department, Beaverdam-Richland Township Fire Department, and Lafayette-Jackson Township Fire Department.
