Cross Creek home damaged by fire
A Cross Creek Township man and his child are looking for a place to stay after a fire Tuesday night heavily damaged their home, just a day after they moved into the residence.
Avella fire Capt. Jim Rankin said he could see the fire from his home after getting the report of the blaze at the home of James Crouser, 90 Donahoe St., about 9:30 p.m.
Rankin said there was no one in the two-story frame house when the fire started, although there was an initial report that a dog was inside the residence. Rankin said there was no animal inside the house.
The fire started in a back bedroom, demolishing it, the fire captain said. A space heater may have started the fire.
Firefighters had the fire under control in 10 or 15 minutes and were on the scene until about 11:45 p.m., Rankin said.
Rankin said a friend of Crouser’s had reportedly driven past the house about 15 minutes before the fire was reported and saw smoke, but thought it was coming out of the chimney. Neighbors reported the fire.
Crouser told Rankin he recently purchased the house and just moved in the day before. Crouser did remodeling work to the house before moving in, the fire captain added. The American Red Cross was called to assist him and his child.
Assisting at the scene were firefighters from Slovan, Mt. Pleasant Township and West Middletown. Canton Township firefighters responded with an air truck to refill the bottles on the firefighters’ breathing apparatuses.