Man escapes unharmed in West Toledo fire

3/19/2007

A man was able to safely escape a burning house fire that damaged the rear of a two-story, wood-frame home in West Toledo yesterday, a fire official said.

Battalion Chief Phil Cervantes said the fire at 1102 Waverly Ave. started about 12:45 p.m., and may have been caused by a space heater. He said Brenda Hersey lived in the home with four grown children, but only one was home at the time, and he escaped unharmed.

The fire badly damaged the rear of the home to where the interior was exposed. Chief Cervantes said he did not have a damage estimate but believed the house would be a total loss. The investigation into the fire continued yesterday.