Building catches fire in East Toledo

Firefighters from the Toledo Fire Department battle a fully involved structure fire Oak Street. The fire is being investigated as a possible arson.

A vacant two-story building went up in flames today, drawing a crowd to East Toledo's Oak Street.

The fire at 433 Oak was first reported at approximately 3:50 p.m.

A second fire, at St. Louis and Greenwood avenues, was reported just minutes later. That fire appeared to be extinguished quickly.

Official information about the fires was not immediately available.

Connie Keel was sleeping in a house next door when the a friend woke her up to report the fire next door.

"Thank goodness for my friends," said Ms. Keel, who moved into her rented home in October.

Her three cats and dog were still inside her home, which did not appear to be damaged from the fire.

From across the street, sisters Dusti Borton and Tammi Chevalier watched smoke billow from the roof of the burning home.

Watching it burn brought back horrible memories from a time they were trapped on the second floor of their South Toledo home when it caught fire in 1991.

The home, 1332 Western Ave., caught fire as Ms. Chevalier's son was playing with matches.

"We owe our lives to the fire department," she said.

Both women said seeing the fire gave them goosebumps.

"I never want to go through that again," Ms. Chevalier said. "Thank goodness no one was inside that house."