Father, son hospitalized after fire

Staff report

Austintown

Two men were sent to the hospital after escaping a fire inside a New Road home.

Assistant Fire Chief Andy Frost III said homeowner Herbert Cordell was asleep in the home at 4446 New Road just before 11 p.m. Thursday when the blaze broke out.

Frost said Cordell’s son Rodney Cordell and several other family members who were visiting returned to the home after a trip to the store to find the house in flames.

Rodney “went in and carried his elderly father outside,” Frost said.

He said both had some burns and suffered from smoke inhalation. They were taken to St. Elizabeth Health Center, Youngstown. Conditions weren’t available Friday afternoon.

Frost said the cause of the fire is under investigation, but initial reports show it may have originated in the kitchen and laundry-room area.

Damages are estimated to be about $50,000 to the structure and $15,000 to contents, according to an incident report.

“It’s going to be close to a total loss because the cost to fix the house may exceed the pre-fire value,” Frost said.