Fire that destroyed historic Columbiana home determined to be arson

Staff report

NORTH LIMA

The state fire marshal has ruled a fire that destroyed the historic Firestone mansion Oct. 21 as an arson.

The fire marshal’s office is still investigating.

They are asking anyone who has information to call 800-589-2728.

Beaver Township firefighters responded to the fire at 600 Lipply Road at 3:44 a.m. that day. By the time they arrived, the house was destroyed, fire Chief Russ Osborne said.

The owners of the house, Tom and Connie Ellison, did not live there, and the house was empty at the time. It was not insured.

The Ellisons purchased the house in 2011. They moved it from its original location on the grounds of the Firestone tire-testing facility to a 5-acre parcel on Pine Lake.

They said they had just finished renovating the 134-year-old house, and were getting ready to sell it.

They did not have an idea of who could be responsible for the fire, they told The Vindicator.

The value of the 2,720- square-foot, eight-bedroom house was listed at $222,500 in Mahoning County Auditor records.