Saturday, September 9, 2006
A ceiling fell and hit a firefighter on the head.
YOUNGSTOWN -- A vacant house on fire in the 900 block of Woodland Avenue collapsed about 10 minutes after firefighters arrived early Friday.
Firefighters on the scene at 4:51 a.m. said the blaze was intentionally set. No exact address was given for the structure. Damage was listed at $5,500, a total loss. The fire rekindled at 10:50 a.m. Friday.
On Thursday, fire crews were sent to fires at vacant houses on Clarencedale Avenue and Cohasset Drive. The cause of both fires is under investigation.
Fire burned out the stairs to the second floor at 143 Clarencedale and was visible in the basement behind the stairs at 11:30 p.m. Thursday. Fire also spread from the attic to the roof.
Out of safety concerns, crews were called out of the structure, and it was allowed to come down. Damage was listed as $29,000, a total loss.
House nearby damaged
A neighboring house being reroofed at 139 Clarencedale received extensive water damage, reports show. A firefighter trying to remove water and cover valuables inside the house was hit in the head when the ceiling caved in. He was not seriously injured.
At 417 Cohasset, fire was seen on the second floor when crews arrived at 5:22 p.m. Thursday. Neighbors said the house has been vacant for 20 years. Firefighters believe someone had been squatting at the place, which they said is very unsafe because the floors and roof are rotting. Damage was set at $6,000.
Firefighters said the house, which was not on the demolition list, will be placed on the list as an emergency.