Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Fire department not yet sure what sparked blaze that destroyed home
The cause of a fire that destroyed a house on Priem Road early Friday morning is still undetermined. Assistant Fire Chief Jack Draves said an investigator for the insurance company was on the site Monday and will compare notes with Strongsville's investigator, as well as the state fire marshal's office. "There were some things that weren't adding up," Draves said. "We wanted to get some other expertise." But he said it's too early to speculate on the cause. "The neighbors are still providing witness statements," he said. The $275,000 house at 9889 Priem Rd. was declared a total loss. The blaze was reported by neighbors about 12:30 a.m. No one was home at the time. Draves said the residents spend part of their time in Florida, and were …
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Strongsville firefighters battle two blazes in one week
Fire destroyed a house on Priem Road early Friday morning, officials said. No one was home at the time and no injuries were reported. It was the second major house fire in Strongsville last week, following a blaze on Delaware Drive on Wednesday. Fire Chief Jeff Branic said a neighbor reported a fire in the woods off Priem Road about 12:30 a.m., followed by a call from another resident who said a house was burning. Firefighters found the home at 9889 Priem Rd., which sits back from the road about 500 feet, fully involved with fire. Crews laid about 500 feet of line down the driveway and deployed a deck gun, which delivers about 500 gallons of water a minute, to slow the fire's advance. No vehicles were in the driveway or garage. "…
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Coincidence and donation bring old pumper back where it started
Lt. Pat Greco remembers the old 1948 American La France pumper from when he started as a Strongsville firefighter in 1980. It wasn't used often, but it was a back-up unit for major commercial fires. "I drove it about six times to fires," Greco recalled. "It was quite an experience to drive it." Then it was finally retired and sold. No one thought much about it. Until this summer, that is, when Greco, who plans to retire in the fall, was shopping for a boat. He was checking one out at Battery Park Marina in Sandusky when a white truck caught his eye. He went over and was shocked to see "Strongsville" written on it. "I said, 'oh my gosh, that's our truck,'" he said. The marina bought it sometime in the 1990s on eBay, filled the tank with …
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Money would be used for rescue squads, equipment
Strongsville is asking the federal government for $360,000 to help equip the Fire Department. City Council last week agreed to apply for the money from the Assistance to Firefighter Grant Program. It would be a 90-10 split, meaning the city would have to match the grant with $40,000. "Let's hope we get every nickel," Councilman at large Joe DeMio said. The money would be used to buy EMS vehicles and personal protective equipment for firefighters.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
If the kids are going to burn sparklers, make sure they don't toss them on the lawn, fire department says
On Saturday, someone riding a motorcycle was seen throwing a smoke bomb near SouthPark Mall about 6 p.m. Within minutes, the grass was on fire. The fire department was called to put out the blaze, which burned at least 200 feet of grass on a hillside, a report said. This year, the danger of backyard fireworks goes beyond personal injury. With the drought-like conditions, a spark is apt to easily set the dry, crispy grass on fire -- and the culprit could face an arson charge. "People need to just use common sense," Detective Lt. John Janowski said. "With as dry as it's been, nobody should be doing any kind of fireworks right now." Still, at least six fireworks complaints came in Saturday night -- from Willow Circle, Jonathan Drive, North …
Thursday, June 7, 2012
No injuries reported in Thursday afternoon blaze
A fire that started in the kitchen of a second-floor unit caused an estimated $500,000 in damage at Parkside Towers, 8380 Pearl Rd., Thursday afternoon. Fire Chief Jeff Branic said no one was injured in the blaze, which was reported at 12:16 p.m. after grease ignited during cooking. When the first units arrived, firefighters found flames showing from the living room window, damaging the window of the unit upstairs. Firefighters from Strongsville, Berea, Middleburg Heights and Olmsted Township all responded. Branic said the unit where the fire originated suffered severe fire damage. Six other apartments had collateral damage from heat and water, and many other units suffered smoke damage.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Strongsville firemedics deliver Avon Lake couple's girl in bathroom
When Charlotte "Charlie" Zimmerman made her grand entrance into this world Monday night, it wasn't exactly the way anyone planned. Charlie was born at her grandparents' Strongsville home, minutes after six Strongsville firemedics arrived. "My wife almost delivered her own grandchild," the new grandpa, Barry Zimmerman, said. Fortunately, firemedics arrived in time to step in. "Delivery in the field doesn't happen very often," said firefighter Tony Hunt, who said it was the first time he assisted in a birth. "We're all pleased it was a safe delivery -- that's what's important." Here's what happened: Zimmerman's son, Josh, 27, and his girlfriend, Katie, were planning to go to the hospital Tuesday to have labor induced. The couple, who live in…
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Fire department ready to start annual maintenance in neighborhoods
The Strongsville Fire Department will start flushing hydrants April 9. Crews of firefighters will inspect and flush each hydrant in the city over the next few weeks. If you encounter rusty or discolored water flowing from your faucets after they've been on your street, run the cold water for a few minutes until it clears.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Barrett, Filon are promoted to new positions in department
Mayor Tom Perciak administered the oath of office Monday night to two new captains in the fire department. Paul Filon, a fire-medic here for 17 years, serves on the haz-mat team and the bomb response unit. He is also a practicing patent attorney. Kenneth Barrett, who has been with the department more than 20 years, is a certified fire inspector, fire instructor and emergency medical instructor who created a public CPR program. He also serves a chief of the Erhart/York Township Fire Department in Medina County.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Police are investigating the fires that left Steve and Bernice's van and another car charred early Tuesday morning.
Steve and Bernice, who declined to give their last names for this story, woke up around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday to the horn of their 2003 Honda Odyssey blaring in their Collier Drive driveway. “It wasn’t the alarm, it was more like a constant blare,” Steve said. “So when the key remote wouldn’t turn it off, I went to the window, and that’s when I saw the smoke.” Steve then ran outside and grabbed the hose. In the heat of the moment, he remembered to turn the water on, and ran to the driver side of the van, where the flame was. “When I went to shoot the flame on the driver side, nothing happened,” he said as he was spraying black sludge from the driveway into the storm drain. “The hose wasn’t attached.” He gave a chuckle, and then started …
Beverly
11:53 pm on Saturday, July 28, 2012
Yes Ken MaLoser -they clearly state they don't know the cause of the ignition of the fires & it is of some concern to firefighters that they have had 2 serious fire with no obvious explanation in a short period of time-so what is your point? more ›