Arson levels central Toledo home after teens' dispute

6/13/2007

An arson fire yesterday destroyed a central Toledo house, which the occupant and her children left after an incident Sunday in which juveniles, some with pipes, threw items at the house in a dispute with one of her children, a fire investigator said.

The blaze began in the front living room on the first floor of 930 Lindsay Ave. It caused about $80,000 damage to the two-story house, Investigator Michael Smith said.

No one was home when fire crews arrived about 4:25 a.m. and saw flames coming from the house. The fire was so extensive crews did not attempt to enter. By the time the blaze was under control about 5 a.m., the house was a total loss, fire Lt. Melvin Bond said.

The roof collapsed, and heat from the blaze caused about $5,000 damage to a neighboring house, Mr. Smith said.

Stacy Jordan, 30, and her children, ages 4 to 14 years old, were staying with her mother at the time of the fire. Juveniles were in the area a day earlier, harassing and threatening Ms. Jordan, Mr. Smith said.

He said no one knew who the juveniles were, but he believes the situation is connected to the fire.

A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered for information about the person who started the blaze.

Renascence Ottawa L.P. of Columbus owns the house, according to online Lucas County real estate records.

The Greater Toledo Area Chapter of the American Red Cross was notified, but the agency had not heard from Ms. Jordan to determine her needs, spokesman Jodie Tienvieri said.