Fire at public-housing site spurs evacuation

Associated Press

MASSILLON

Authorities say a fire in one unit of a six-story public housing building in Massillon led to the temporary evacuation of more than 100 people, many of them elderly or disabled.

The Repository newspaper in nearby Canton reports residents fled outside or onto balconies in 20- degree weather as smoke filled parts of the building Saturday evening.

Those who didn’t leave the area with relatives or friends stayed warm by boarding buses from the regional transit authority.

City officials say three residents and seven police officers who helped with the evacuation were checked for smoke inhalation.

No further injuries were reported.

The cause of the blaze was under investigation Saturday night.

The building is owned by the nonprofit Stark Metropolitan Housing Authority.