1-year-old boy injured in South Toledo house fire

12/31/2004

A 1-year-old boy was taken to a hospital after he sustained smoke inhalation in a fire that badly damaged a house at 1426 Hamilton St. near Junction Avenue in South Toledo, authorities said.

Robert Brown, who "appeared to be in very good shape," was taken to Toledo Hospital, said fire Capt. Patrick Nicely, who was the first on the scene soon after the fire was reported about 10:30 p.m.

When firefighters arrived at the two-story, wood-frame structure, Luketha Brown, 23, the boy's mother, had escaped unhurt and was standing outside with the boy in her arms, neighbors said. The fire started in the living room, and Ms. Brown was in the kitchen, authorities said.

Firefighters extinguished the blaze within seven minutes, fire Battalion Chief Dennis Facer said. The fire appeared to be accidental, but the cause was still under investigation, he said.

Initial reports were that two children were trapped in the house, but firefighters said that was not the case.

A monetary estimate of the damage was not available late last night.