Historic Island House Inn damaged in Saturday fire

11/18/2003

PORT CLINTON — A fire early Saturday that caused $150,000 damage to the historic Island House Inn has been ruled accidental.

Port Clinton Fire Chief Charles O'Neal said yesterday that the fire started after a piece of shelving rubber became lodged next to a vent in a clothes dryer, which was operating at the time. The blaze, which was reported at 2:45 a.m., was confined to the inn's laundry room, but the rest of the structure received water and smoke damage, Chief O'Neal said.