Braceville fire station destroyed by fire

BRACEVILLE — Braceville Fire Chief Don Mallitt felt good that he was able to help put out the fire that devastated the township fire house, destroyed one fire truck and heavily damaged six other vehicles inside.

The 21 other volunteer firefighters, many of whom came to the aid of the unoccupied station on Braceville-Robinson Road, could not don their firefighting gear and help because it was all inside the burning structure by the time they got there.

No one was injured.

Mallitt, who was on duty at his regular job as a Champion Township firefighter at the time the call came in, was able to respond to the fire just after midnight and save two new firetrucks before they were destroyed, despite the heat and a ceiling collapse.

One saved fire truck was pulled through a fire station garage door with a semi tow truck.

Mallitt said the fire started with an explosion, possibly pointing to a firefighter’s air pack or another type of oxygen tank as having been the source of the fire.

He could not estimate the dollar amount of damage, but said the building is likely a total loss.

The station is just north of the Ohio Turnpike exit at Newton Falls.