FIRE DESTROYS HOUSE IN CENTRAL CITY

2/20/2007

Gerald Battle pokes his head out of his second-fl oor window at 754 Vance St., above, to watch as firefighters try to keep a blaze at the house next door, 758 Vance, from spreading to his home. Fire offi cials said the blaze yesterday destroyed the two-story house at 758 Vance in central Toledo.

The cause of the blaze remains undetermined, fire Investigator Michael Smith said. Firefi ghters found the house engulfed in flames when they arrived shortly after 7:30 a.m. Mr. Smith said a neighbor reported hearing an explosion and saw the house on fire.

The house has been vacant since Feb. 10, when the tenants left after being evicted by the homeowner, Bryan Sutton of Toledo. The house was secured, Mr. Smith said. Damage was listed at $35,000, Battalion Fire Chief Eric Renzhofer said. He said the house later was torn down.