An Osnaburg Township couple looses home due to a fire.
OSNABURG TWP. A Tuesday morning fire destroyed a home 1583 Neimans Ave. SE while the residents were absent.
As of late Tuesday afternoon, all that remained of what was a two-story house was the basement where flames were still alive.
"It was so far along when we got on the scene," said Chief Rick Shearer of the township Fire Department. "It was all defensive. We had a tear-down company come. There was a danger of a collapse."
Firefighters received notice of the fire shortly before 11 a.m. Tuesday. The property is owned by Gerald and Lana White Jr., according to Stark County real estate records. The property is about two miles east of East Canton.
The couple were not at home when the fire erupted.
"After discussing it with the property owners, they had left an electric heater on in the kitchen," Shearer said. "They left it running because their pipes had been freezing with the recent cold weather. We believe it was the space heater. The worst of the damage was where the space heater was."
However, Shearer was not certain if the space heater overheated or if it ignited some flammable material. The couple's pet dog and cat perished in the fire. The couple also lost all possessions in the house.
Firefighters eventually left the scene while flames still were visible in what was left of the basement.
"There was no chance for extension," Shearer explained. "We can't keep all units out there throwing water. We soaked it with as much water as we could. Basically, it just extinguishes itself over time."
With fires in rural areas, firefighters largely rely on tanker trucks for water supply rather than hydrants.
The house sat about 200 to 250 yards west of Neimans Avenue SE.
"We laid about 800 feet of supply line," Shearer said.
Other firefighters arrived at the scene from Louisville, Sandy Creek Joint Fire District, and Nimishillen, Canton and Plain townships.
"We assisted a husband and wife with direct-client assistance," said Tim Reichel, disaster program manager for the local American Red Cross chapter. "It is basically finances for immediate necessities. No lodging assistance was given because the couple had a place to stay tonight with family. From viewing it, it was a total loss."
Reach Malcolm at 330-580-8305
or malcolm.hall@cantonrep.com
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