Arson suspected in Fernwood fire

Crews battled a fire at this vacant central Toledo at 1074 Fernwood on Thursday morning.

A vacant central Toledo home in the 1000 block of Fernwood Avenue appears to have been intentionally set on fire Thursday morning.

The cause of the blaze at 1074 Fernwood is not known but is considered suspicious and arson investigators were on scene, according to Toledo fire Lt. Matthew Hertzfeld.

Crews were dispatched at 5:14 a.m. and arrived to find smoke and fire coming from the two-story home. Firefighters had to remove a portion of the roof to bring the "deep-seeded" fire under control, the lieutenant said.

Damages were estimated at $11,000, he said.

The home, built in 1912, is owned by Shawn D. Williams, of the 700 block of Fernwood. Mr. Williams bought the home for $7,000 in October, 2011. The home is valued at $20,600, according to the Lucas County Auditor's Web site.