Maumee apartment blaze leaves 13 residents homeless

Fire displaces occupants of Perrysburg Township motel

Ladder trucks from the Maumee Fire Department spray the shell of a building in the Quail Ridge Apartments in Maumee. No injuries were reported in the blaze.

A fire at a Maumee apartment building Saturday that left residents homeless was among several blazes firefighters battled Saturday across northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan.

Maumee firefighters arrived just after 6 p.m. at the Quail Ridge Apartments, 1446 Picadilly Lane, to find the building engulfed in flames.

Within minutes, firefighters asked for mutual aid from Springfield and Monclova fire departments. Maumee fire authorities also requested that crews from the Toledo Fire Department fill in at Maumee fire stations.

Firefighter were still at the scene nearly four hours later.

The two-story building contained eight units, four on each floor. There were no reports of injury.

But residents of six of the eight apartments -- 10 adults and three children -- received help with food, clothing, and accommodations from the American Red Cross, said Jason Copsey, spokesman for the Greater Toledo Area Chapter.

The cause of the fire was under investigation. A damage estimate was not available.

About 20 minutes before the Maumee fire was reported, about 5:40 p.m., Oregon fire crews were dispatched to a unit in the Amberwood Apartments, 3525 Navarre Ave.

Everyone was reported out of the unit, and no one was believed to be injured, authorities said.

Fires also displaced guests at two motels.

The Comfort Inn and Suites in Perrysburg Township was evacuated for the evening after firefighters were dispatched about 4 p.m. to the motel, 27450 Helen Dr.

Perrysburg Township crews were assisted by firefighters from Rossford and Lake and Troy townships.

Fire crews were still on the scene after 9 p.m.

No injuries were reported.

The motel was emptied of staff, guests, and visitors, said Chief Tom Brice of the Perrysburg Township Fire Department. The motel has 41 guest rooms, and 25 were occupied.

"When we got here the fire was well involved within the floors and the walls," the chief said.

Officials did not know when hotel occupants would be able to return, because smoke filled much of the first and second floors, Chief Brice said. No one answered the phone at the Comfort Inn desk late Saturday.

Township police closed a portion of Helen Drive to traffic.

The cause was being investigated, Chief Brice said.

In Hillsdale, Mich., the Bavarian Inn was evacuated of employees and guests after firefighters were called to a fire there about noon.

No injuries were reported and everyone was safely evacuated from the inn on Hudson Road, said Hillsdale Rural Fire Department Chief Brian Aube.

He did not know the how many people fled the building.

The hotel is about 20 miles from Michigan International Speedway. Hudson Road also is M-99, and firefighters closed the highway to traffic. It was reopened about 4 p.m.

The cause was under investigation.

Firefighters in Toledo battled early morning blazes. Investigators were called to a fire reported about 3:40 a.m. at a two-story, four-unit complex at 338 Willard St. near Kelsey Avenue. No injuries were reported. Three adults needed Red Cross help with food, clothing, and accommodations, Mr. Copsey said.

The fire was under control by 4:13 a.m, a fire dispatcher said.

Lucas County auditor's records list the building as a residence built in 1897 and owned by Michael William McCrory.

Damage to the structure totaled $13,000, Lt. Matt Hertzfeld of the Toledo fire department said.

Someone smoking in a residence was the cause of a fire about 4:55 a.m. Saturday at 156 Mettler St. near Central Catholic High School.

No injuries were reported, Lieutenant Hertzfeld said. He did not know how many people were in the building at the time of the fire.

Damage was estimated at $12,000.

Lucas County auditor's records list the building as a two-bedroom home built in 1887 and owned by James F. Helminski.