Garage fire spreads in East Toledo

12/9/2013

A garage fire in East Toledo spread to two adjoining garages Sunday afternoon and caused damage to two nearby homes when airborne embers landed on their roofs.

Fire to the garage at 133 Essex St., near Front Street, caused $6,500 in damage to the structure and a vehicle inside, said Lt. Matthew Hertzfeld, fire department spokesman.

The roof fires were spotted as fire crews were leaving the garage blazes, but crews were able to limit the damage, he said.

The first garage fire, called in at 4:33 p.m., spread to adjacent garages at 127 and 135 Essex, but the damage was not as extensive, Lieutenant Hertzfeld said. The cause was under investigation.

The fire also took out power lines serving two homes.

Earlier, Toledo firefighters were called at 3:09 p.m. to extinguish a fire that began in the kitchen of a home at 928 St. John Ave. in North Toledo.

The fire, contained to the kitchen, was caused by grease on the stove, Lieutenant Hertzfeld said.

Damage was estimated at $12,000 and the American Red Cross was asked to assist the family, he said.