$31,000 IN DAMAGE

Toledo firefighters respond to 3 blazes in 6-hour period

Crews rescue man who climbed roof to help others

7/14/2013

Toledo firefighters were busy overnight Saturday, reporting that they responded to three fires within six hours that caused a collective $31,000 in damage.

During one fire about 4:30 a.m. at 356 Richardson Dr., fire crews had to rescue a man who got stuck on the roof after he climbed up the second-story house and broke through a window to try to get in and rescue potential victims, said fire Lt. Matt Hertzfeld.

Lieutenant Hertzfeld said crews brought the man down with a ladder.

He was transported to Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center for minor injuries suffered when he broke the window.

Lieutenant Hertzfeld said the home’s occupants evacuated without injury.

The fire caused $5,000 in damage and was ruled accidental, after someone placed an unidentified hot object near combustible material, he said.

In a fire about 45 minutes earlier at 357 E. Park St., the Lucas County Dog Warden’s Office responded and rescued two large dogs from the backyard.

Their breeds could not be identified late Saturday.

No one was home at the time of the fire, which Lieutenant Hertzfeld said was in the basement area and caused $25,000 in damage.

It remains under investigation.

Lieutenant Hertzfeld said there were no working fire alarms to wake the occupants of the Richardson Drive home, and he said residents of Toledo can stop at any of the city’s fire stations and receive a free smoke alarm.

All residents should also have an escape plan, he said.

Firefighters put out a third fire at 1336 Prouty Ave. that caused $1,000 in damage. That fire was ruled an arson, Lieutenant Hertzfeld said.

The home is occupied, Lieutenant Hertzfeld said, but he did not know if anyone was home at the time of the fire.