Islington St. apartments struck by fire to be razed

6/8/2007

A three-story apartment building destroyed by a two-alarm fire Wednesday night is expected to be razed within the next day or so, said a Toledo fire investigator who is working to determine the cause of the blaze.

The fire at 421 Islington St. east of Collingwood Boulevard began on the first floor inside a rear exit door and caused about $200,000 damage, Investigator Michael Smith said yesterday.

The blaze inside the brick building traveled up a stairwell, to a ceiling, and through the roof, which caved in. Firefighters found the structure fully involved when they arrived. Mr. Smith said of the six units in the building, only one was occupied and it was "semi-occupied."

He said Ryan Klootwyk of South Dakota bought the building in April. Eviction notices had been given and items were being repaired. Painters were working outside the building on front windows and left about 30 minutes before the fire was reported. The blaze was probably burning when the painters were there, the investigator said.

The Greater Toledo Chapter of the American Red Cross helped one woman tenant with food, spokesman Jodie Tienvieri said.