NORTH TOLEDO

Woman helps alert neighbors to roof fire

Blaze began in nearby home

Toledo firefighters battle a blaze at 1206 and 1210 Peck, Thursday.

Diamond Gaston was in the right place at the right time Thursday night.

Ms. Gaston and her boyfriend had just walked over to North Toledo’s Peck Street when they saw a large, dark cloud coming from a nearby house just before 6:30 p.m.

“I just [saw] a big ol’ cloud of smoke. All I see is a whole lot of smoke coming out,” she said.

A woman at 1206 Peck St. was outside mowing the grass when Ms. Gaston noticed the flames coming from the roof.

When Ms. Gaston noticed that 1210 Peck was also on fire, she immediately ran into that home to let her neighbors know.

Jonathan and Torria Russell, who live at 1210 Peck, had no idea the fire had spread to their rooftop.

“She busted into my house to say my house is on fire,” Mrs. Russell said. “If it wasn’t for her ... ”

Mr. and Mrs. Russell sat across the street from their home and watched as Toledo firefighters assessed the damage and attempted to put out the blaze.

The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.

Lt. Matthew Hertzfeld, Toledo Fire Department spokesman, said late Thursday that he did not have damage estimates yet for either house. No one was injured.

The call was first reported to the Toledo Fire Department just before 5:40 p.m.

Flames and heavy smoke were reported in the back of the first home.

Mr. Russell later said it seemed like the fire damaged mostly the kitchen and a bathroom at the back of his house.

Both of the homes are older.

Built in 1892, 1206 Peck is owned by Freda Osley of the same address, according to the Lucas County auditor’s Web site.

The second house, 1210 Peck, was built in 1887 and is owned by William and Jessica Peters of Rossford.

Mr. and Mrs. Russell said they were in the process of buying the house.

Contact Kelly McLendon at:

kmclendon@theblade.com,

419-724-6522, or on

Twitter @KMcBlade.