Fire chief blames arsonist for blaze

5/16/2004

Arson was blamed yesterday by a Toledo fire chief for an estimated $50,000 in damage to a vacant, older commercial building at Elm and Utica streets in North Toledo.

Firefighters saw heavy smoke and flames when they arrived at the multistory tan brick building at 1510 Elm St. about 1:30 p.m.

The fire, however, was largely confined to a 30-foot-by-30-foot lobby area where the walls were consumed by the flames, according to battalion fire Chief Mark Klein.

A sign on the building said Premier Bedding LLC, but Chief Klein said it was vacant except for debris such as pallets.

No injuries were reported, and there was no evidence of significant structural damage to the building, the chief said.