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Fire destroys Claridon house
(by Joseph Koziol Jr. - March 03, 2010)
Fire destroys Claridon house
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
A Claridon Township family was left homeless last week after a fire that went undetected for hours destroyed their Forest Road home.
Burton Fire Chief Michael Sestak said Monday the walls and roof of the home collapsed before firefighters arrived shortly after 9:30 a.m. Feb. 25.
He said firefighters responded to the blaze within four minutes, but the fire apparently burned for hours before a telephone call was made.
Chardon Fire Chief Larry Gaspar, whose department also was called to the scene, said firefighters only could take a defensive attack on the structure by pouring water from the outside.
In addition to Chardon and Burton, fire companies from Middlefield, Munson, Newbury and Mesopotamia were called to assist, Mr. Sestak said.
A Geauga County sheriff's deputy was the first to arrive and witnessed the collapse of the home. "The main house is collapsing now, all that's left is the brick," the deputy reported.
The deputy also reported there was concern for the occupants, knowing that "two elderly people" lived at the home. Officials later learned that the couple was away in Texas.
Mr. Sestak said firefighters remained on the scene for about three hours. "It was a total loss," he said of the approximately 1,000-square-foot home.
Mr. Sestak said Geauga County's Fire Investigation Unit would be investigating the blaze, although it may be difficult to determine the exact origin because of the extent of the damage.
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