BLOOMVILLE — A house has been deemed a total loss after multiple agencies braved subzero temperatures while battling a blaze in the 7000 block of Miller Road.
Lykens Township Volunteer Fire Department Chief Brad Schafer said the windy and cold weather conditions proved to cause a greater challenge for the responding units.
Schafer said the wind caused the flames to continue to blow through the structure and the cold temperature caused many of the units’ water lines to freeze on scene.
He said ice as thick as 2-3 inches began to build up on his crews’ equipment.
“The Crawford County EMA brought out space heaters to put on the trucks to try to keep the water lines from freezing,” he said.
He said he called departments from Wyandot and Seneca counties to assist bringing water to the scene.
“We had to think outside the box and, in this case, that meant thinking outside this county,” Schafer said.
One of the biggest obstacles, Schafer said, was the inability to call some of the other local agencies due to other fires emergencies happening at the same time in the 7000 block of German Road and then on South Washington Avenue in Crestline.
“Our county had three fires at the same time,” Schafer said. “I think how we all handled the situation is a real testament to the resources in Crawford County. I have a lot of respect for the departments and their chiefs that responded to the different emergencies.”
Schafer said one of the units that responded to Miller Road, Clinton Township in Seneca County, came from north of Ohio 224 near Tiffin to give aid. Also, Jefferson Township was on scene in Richland County before responding to Miller Road.
Responding agencies included Lykens Township, Holmes Township, Jefferson Township, Clinton Township (Seneca County), Bloom Township (Seneca County), New Washington, Attica, Chatfield, Sycamore and McCuthcenville fire departments; Crawford County Sheriff’s Office; Portsmouth Emergency Ambulance Service; Crawford County EMA; and American Red Cross.
Schafer said all residents and pets at the house were safely evacuated.
“It’s not much, but we were able to retrieve a few personal belongings as well,” Schafer said.
He said the cause was unknown, but the residents said they first saw the flames in the basement.
The Red Cross tended to the residents who then stayed with family after the incident. The Crawford County Red Cross may be contacted at 419-562-4357.
A previous version of this article had photos and videos of the fire scene on German Road.