BILL WEST / Star Beacon
FRIEFIGHTERS FROM Kingsville and Ashtabula Township battle a stubborn house fire Tuesday on Cemetery Road in Kingsville.
Published November 25, 2008 09:02 pm - A stubborn fire that began late Tuesday morning destroyed a century-old home on Cemetery Road.
TOTAL LOSS Kingsville fire challenges seven departments
By MARK TODD - Staff Writer - mtodd@starbeacon.com Star Beacon
KINGSVILLE TOWNSHIP — A stubborn fire that began late Tuesday morning destroyed a century-old home on Cemetery Road.
Firefighters from seven different departments spent hours in horrendous weather, battling the blaze at 5901 Cemetery Road. Five hours after the alarm was sounded, a power shovel was busy flattening the Victorian-style home.
The fire began in the basement, but the cause is undetermined, said Neal Stewart, acting Kingsville fire chief.
The home is owned by Arthur Shahan and was insured, according to Stewart. No one was home at the time.
Stewart, who is also the township’s road superintendent, said he and co-worker Scott Burdine saw smoke curling from the home as they were leaving the township garage to begin plow duty. The garage sits next to the house.
The pair notified authorities and ran to the house, banging on the door to alert any occupants.
North Kingsville firefighters were first to arrive, said Brian Lehtonen, the village’s fire chief. Plenty of smoke was streaming from the big house upon their arrival, he said.
“Smoke was very evident,” he said.
Fire burned out the floors, Stewart said.
“It was totally gutted,” he said. “Basically, we had a skeleton.”
Flames were very difficult to find, hiding in recesses within the walls and ceilings, firefighters said.
“The house had balloon construction,” Stewart said, referring to a style of building that lacks firewalls or barriers to prevent flames from spreading.
Lehtonen agreed demolition was the only answer to ensure the fire was completely extinguished.
“Otherwise, we would have been back on a rekindled fire,” he said.
Firefighters were able to salvage only a few possessions for the occupants, Lehtonen said.
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