Fire damages century-old home

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EATON — Fire crews from four Preble County departments battled a structure fire for several hours Friday afternoon, Feb. 24, on North Maple Street in Eaton.

Crews from Eaton, Gasper Township, West Manchester and West Alexandria battled the blaze at 1234 N. Maple Street.

Windy conditions and “void spaces” in the structure hampered the efforts to put out the fire.

No one resided in the 117-year-old multi-story residential building that was being used as a temporary office, according to Eaton Fire Chief Brian Smith. The building, an old farm house, according to Smith, had been added on to several times.

“When I arrived we had a little bit of fire through the back roof and heavy smoke,” Smith said. “Due to the construction of the building, I’ve got a roof on top of a roof over half of the building. The fire was in between, and throw in today’s wind conditions — it’s been a little difficult to get it put out.”

Smith said the call came in just before noon and crews were on scene for several hours.

“The house was being used as a construction office while they renovate,” Smith said. “There were no injuries. Everybody’s doing well.”

Smith said the cause is still under investigation.

“This was an old farm house at one time. It’s been added on to multiple times. So when you get buildings like that, especially that have had additions you get a lot of void spaces. The fire will run in those void spaces and that’s what’s happened here,” Smith said. “I can tell you, it started somewhere probably, in the back of the house and it ran and got up in the attic space in the two-story portion.”

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2017/02/web1_maple_fire1.jpg

Crews from Eaton, Gasper Township, West Manchester and West Alexandria battled the blaze at 1234 N. Maple Street.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2017/02/web1_maple_fire2.jpgCrews from Eaton, Gasper Township, West Manchester and West Alexandria battled the blaze at 1234 N. Maple Street.

No one resided in the 117-year-old multi-story residential building that was being used as a temporary office, according to Eaton Fire Chief Brian Smith. The building, an old farm house, according to Smith, had been added on to several times, which hampered the extinguishing of the fire.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2017/02/web1_maple_fire3.jpgNo one resided in the 117-year-old multi-story residential building that was being used as a temporary office, according to Eaton Fire Chief Brian Smith. The building, an old farm house, according to Smith, had been added on to several times, which hampered the extinguishing of the fire.
Wind, more hampers firefighters

By Eddie Mowen Jr.

[email protected]

Reach Eddie Mowen Jr. at 937-683-4056 or on Twitter @emowen_RH.

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