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East Side teen reports fire, helps neighbors get out safely
YOUNGSTOWN
When she went outside to get the mail, South Garland Avenue teen Shalie Gentry, 13, saw smoke coming from a vacant house across the street and ran to the occupied house next to the burning structure and banged on the door to alert her neighbors, then called 911.
And then, Shalie helped David Perez, who uses a wheelchair, out of his home.
The East Side fire was reported about 5 p.m., and firefighters were expected to leave the scene about 7 p.m., said Fire Department Battalion Chief John Lightly.
Shalie’s neighbors, David and his wife, Anna, got out safely; and their dog and birds and fish survived the blaze, as did their home, except for some exterior fire damage on the south side, next to the burning house, and some smoke and water damage inside.
The Perezes said they are thankful their home was saved, but are upset that the vacant house had not already been demolished by the city.
“We’ve been complaining to the mayor’s office for months about the vacant house,” said Hector Colon, the Perezes’ son.
The house was a rodent-infested dumping ground for tires and used by drug addicts, Colon said.
“We plan to call the mayor’s office Monday,” said Colon, who also noted that the fire department did not have adequate water pressure.
Lightly said there was a water pressure issue at the beginning, but that an extra unit, bringing the total to six, was called out to hook up to additional hydrants to improve pressure.
Lightly said the cause of the fire is unknown, but he estimated it caused $2,000 in loss to the vacant home.
The chief praised the firefighters for a “great effort” in fighting the blaze.