2 blazes damage Toledo houses

4/3/2001

Fire caused about $25,000 damage yesterday to two houses in the city and forced two families from their homes.

A discarded cigarette is believed to have started a fire at 609 Maumee Ave. about 12:30 p.m. The blaze at the 11/2-story house caused $10,000 damage.

It started in a couch in the living room, Mike Sbrocchi of the fire investigation unit said.

The house is owned by Tylor Geiner of Walbridge. It is insured. An unidentified woman and her three children rent the house; they were moving out and had left about 30 minutes before the fire started, a report said. A neighbor reported the fire, Mr. Sbrocchi said.

An electrical fire caused about $15,000 damage to a two-story house at 437 Prescott St. about 11:30 a.m. The blaze started in a new light fixture in a first-floor bathroom, Dale Pelz of the fire investigation unit said.

Sonya Kimble, 35, her husband, Shean Brooks, 29, and her children, ages 11, 13, 15, and 16, rent the house. They have renter's insurance. The building is owned by Rebecca and Douglas Coffey of Monroe.

No one was home when the fire started. A passer-by saw it and called 911 on a cell phone. The house had no smoke detectors, Mr. Pelz said.