Fernwood house fire suspected to be arson

3/9/2012

Authorities say a fire that damaged a vacant central Toledo house Thursday appears to have been intentionally set.

The cause of the blaze at 1074 Fernwood Ave. is not known but is being probed by arson investigators who were on scene, according to Toledo fire Lt. Matthew Hertzfeld. Firefighters were dispatched to the two-story home at 5:14 a.m. Thursday, the lieutenant said. Damages were estimated at $11,000, he said. No injuries were reported.

The 1912-built home is owned by Shawn D. Williams, of the 700 block of Fernwood, who 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.

The property is a known hangout for gang members, according to police. In late October, Justin Smith, 25, was shot and killed outside the property while attending a vigil for a friend who was shot and killed on Fernwood a year earlier.