East Toledo blaze leaves 2 residents homeless

9/25/2004

An East Toledo fire caused about $5,000 damage to a large garage and left two residents seeking emergency shelter from the Red Cross last night, authorities said.

The fire started shortly before 9:30 p.m. in the back of the 35-by-60-foot garage, which was attached to a house at 870 Oak St. near Navarre Avenue owned by Francis Russell, Battalion Fire Chief Mark Klein said.

The fire spread to a second floor of the garage and left it structurally unsound. The garage was to be torn down last night, Chief Klein said. He said the fire investigator was not sure of the fire's cause.

Power was cut to the house and garage, and the Red Cross aided Mr. and Mrs. Russell last night.