Mom, 2 kids suffer smoke inhalation in Sylvania fire

11/14/2008

A woman and her two children suffered minor smoke inhalation yesterday in what started as a fire in the attached garage and eventually caused an estimated $160,000 damage to their home in Sylvania, authorities said.

The woman, her 12-year-old daughter, and 10-year-old son fled the house at 7054 Altara Drive before fire crews arrived about 2:25 a.m. and found heavy fire in the attached garage, Chief Eisel said.

The three, whose names were not released, did not seek medical treatment, Sylvania Township Deputy Fire Chief Tom Eisel said.

"The girl smelled something and woke everybody up," he said. "The mom got up, started looking around, and didn't see anything. She tried the garage door. It felt warm. She looked inside and saw the fire."

Firefighters brought the blaze under control in about an hour, but not before the flames extensively damaged the garage and spread to the attic, the family room, and the kitchen of the single-story, wood-frame house, Chief Eisel said.

The cause is under investigation, but it was determined that the blaze started in the furnace area in the garage, the chief said.