FINDLAY, Ohio — A neighborhood on the north side of Findlay was shaken up on Saturday as a fire completely destroyed a home and left several other homes and outbuildings badly damaged.
The fire occurred on Northtowne Dr. off of Broad Ave. around 2 p.m.
By 3 p.m. nothing was left but a pile of smoldering charred debris next to the home where the fire was centered as firefighters continued to spray it with water – evidence of the size of the blaze.
Despite the heavy damage to the home, Findlay Fire Battalion Chief Matt Cooper says fortunately no one was injured in the fire including pets.
WTOL 11 spoke to a woman who lived at the home who says she just moved to the area and will now need to start all over.
"We lived in the house since April 14, so we just moved in, just got it set up and ready to go, and now we got to start over," said the homeowner.
Neighbor Linda Cooper was working on her computer before she noticed what was going on once she looked out the window and saw the fire demolishing her neighbor's home.
"I didn't realize how intense the heat was, until I opened my garage door, and the heat just hit me in the face. It was so heavy," Cooper said.
While Cooper does have some siding and garage damage, she said it is nothing in comparison to her neighbors' who are facing a much longer road ahead.
"I can't believe it, I mean they lost everything and they're the nicest people. So sad," Cooper said.
Another next-door neighbor also said he and his wife were asleep with their AC turned up, so they had no clue it was happening until someone knocked on their door.
Chief Cooper says the fire likely started in a shed behind the home.
Several homes and other buildings were also damaged to varying degree in the fire.
In all, a home, shed, and garage were completely destroyed in the fire. Other homes and structures in the area suffered from exterior damage due to radiant heat including homes across the street.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Multiple departments including Findlay, Portage, Allen Township, and Pleasant, Portage and McComb responded to the fire.
Stay with WTOL 11 for more on this developing story as details become available.
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