TOLEDO, Ohio — Fire crews are investigating a fire that took place in south Toledo home Saturday night and left one adult man dead.
First responders were dispatched to the 1000 block of Prouty Avenue around 11:15 p.m. on a structure fire call. The caller said it was possible a person was still inside the home, according to the Toledo Fire and Rescue Department.
Crews on the scene reported heavy fire and smoke showing from the rear of a two-story home. When they entered the house, firefighters proceed to the back of the house, where they found the victim.
"They (crews) made entry right away. Obviously, the first priority when there is a report of someone possibly trapped, crews entered the structure. They were immediately met by some challenges in the home. A lot of debris, a lot of belongings in the way," Toledo Fire and Rescue Department spokesperson Sterling Rahe said.
At around 11:45 p.m., crews deemed the fire under control.
On Monday, the department's fire investigative unit ruled the fire as accidental. It started in the kitchen. FIU determined the fire did not start in the oven, but said it did start in the kitchen and was ruled accidental.
The fire department said there were no reports of any additional civilian or firefighter injuries.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation and identification of the victim is pending an autopsy.
This is the first fire-related fatality in Toledo this year.
Neighbors on the block believe the victim to be the owner of the home, who they say has lived there for decades.
"Little on the grumpy side but that’s just who he was," neighbor Laura Brownfield said, "but everybody knew him...he was out here, snow rain shine, he did everything himself."
Some of those that lived across the street tried to get into the home before fire crews arrived.
"One of the neighbors over there came and got me and knocked and pounded on his door to try and get him out," a neighbor said. "I went in and tried to kick the door in but it was already too late."
