NEW PHILADELPHIA — No injury was reported from a fire that destroyed a house at 240 Sixth St. NE and damaged the home next door on Sunday morning.
The house in which the fire originated was demolished because it was not safe to enter, thus preventing firefighters from extinguishing hot spots, according to Fire Chief Jim Parrish. High winds expected later Sunday created the risk the smoldering embers would spread the fire.
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Firefighters arrived at the scene at 6:06 a.m. to find both 240 and 236 Sixth St. NE on fire, Parrish said. Fire originated at 240 Sixth St. and spread to the other house.
A man and two children who lived in the house where the fire started went outside before firefighters arrived, Parrish said. They reported the blaze.
The neighboring house suffered exterior damage, roof damage and smoke and water damage inside, the chief said.
Residents of both houses were displaced.
FIrefighters spent an hour getting the fire under control, Parrish said.
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The cause and point of origin had not been determined by midday Sunday, Parrish said. The incident is being investigated by the State Fire Marshal, New Philadelphia police and the fire department’s fire prevention bureau.
New Philadelphia firefighters were assisted by others from Dover and New Philadelphia. Smith Ambulance responded.
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: New Philadelphia, Ohio, house destroyed by fire Sunday morning