Authorities probe cause of house fire

WARREN -- The cause of a Tuesday morning fire, which did an estimated $50,000 damage to a two-story wood house at 1244 Richwood Ave. and its contents, is still under investigation.
Heavy black smoke from the fire, which was reported at 10:06 a.m., could be seen by responding firefighters from two miles away, said Lt. Michael Gregory of the Warren Township Fire Department. The only ones home were two sleeping teenage boys, one of whom woke up, smelled smoke, and woke up his brother, Gregory said.
Both got out safely, and there were no injuries. The fire is believed to have started in an attached garage, where the blaze destroyed a 1976 Pontiac Firebird.
The house had smoke detectors, but the boys said they didn't go off, Gregory said, adding that firefighters found one with no battery in it.
Firefighters were able to save the house, but it suffered extensive smoke and some heat damage, Gregory said. A total of about 20 firefighters from Warren Township, Weathersfield, Lordstown and Braceville fought the blaze.