Firefighters from the Canton Fire Department battle a house fire in the northwest section.
CANTON A fire significantly damaged a duplex house at 1324 18th St. NW Wednesday night.
Both units in the two-story, vinyl-sided house appeared to be vacant. Firefighters responded shortly after 7:30 p.m.
"It is definitely suspicious," Battalion Chief Jeff Magee said. "It seems like it started in the mattress on the second floor. Nobody was here."
With temperatures in the teens and wind chills in single digits, firefighters remained on the scene hours after arriving. The street also was barricaded in the 1300 block of 18th Street NW.
The fire damage extended to the second story, where a huge charred hole could be seen, and attic.
"It caused a lot of damage," Magee said.
However, Magee stopped short of saying the damage was a total loss. While at the scene, firefighters were not able to identify the owner of the structure.
Prior to the house fire, firefighters extinguished another blaze about an hour earlier at Kimble Recycling Transfer facility at 2295 Bolivar Road SW. A huge pile of rubbish ignited there. And because of that blaze, city firefighters found themselves with a manpower issue while at the duplex fire.
"Initially, we had to call Plain Township (Fire Department)," Magee said. "They had to assist us."
Reach Malcolm at 330-580-8305
or malcolm.hall@cantonrep.com
On Twitter: mhallREP