Friday, August 06, 1999
Erlanger man dies in apartment fire
BY CINDY SCHROEDER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
ERLANGER — A malfunction in electrical wiring triggered an early-morning fire that left a 55-year-old Erlanger man dead and destroyed his second-floor apartment, authorities said Thursday.
Firefighters and neighbors made several attempts to rescue Jack Ulm, who lived alone in the 300 block of Center Street, but they were driven back by the intense heat and smoke, said Tim Koenig, the assistant fire chief in Erlanger.
Several of the 25 firefighters were treated at the scene for minor injuries.
Jeanne Fleek said her husband, Philip, had just gotten home from work, when he looked out the window of their Hulbert Street home early Thursday, and saw flames. She said Mr. Fleek called 911 from a portable phone, as he ran across the street to the alley that led to Mr. Ulm's apartment building.
“He went in about 8 feet, and he couldn't breathe or see, so he backed out,” she said.
Another neighbor responded to Mr. Fleek's yells for help, and brought a flashlight.
“After (the neighbor) ran and got a flashlight, he and my husband went back in,” Mrs. Fleek said. “They had hold of (Mr. Ulm), but he just wouldn't budge.”
Neighbor Vicky Eggleston said her husband, Bobby, 54, left for work after he and Mr. Fleek made several unsuccessful attempts at a rescue.
“He said things were dropping down from the ceiling, and it was real hot, with lots of smoke and flames,” she said.
Erlanger firefighters were dispatched at 5:12 a.m., after neighbors reported the fire, Assistant Chief Koenig said. Firefighters were on the scene within five minutes of the call, and they had the fire under control by 5:30 a.m., he said.
Assistant Chief Koenig said the apartment had operable smoke detectors.
Mr. Ulm was found in a hallway about 10 feet from the apartment's front door, Assistant Chief Koenig said. He added that Mr. Ulm was on several medications and was “at least partially disabled.”
Flames destroyed the second-floor living quarters of the frame house, causing about $40,000 damage, the fire official said.
Mr. Ulm's apartment was above a first-floor garage, and was accessible via an alley off Hulbert Street, near the intersection of Center Street.
“The cause was a malfunction in the electrical wiring in the ceiling of the first floor underneath the living space,” said Terry Allen, fire marshal for the city of Erlanger.
DEADLY DAY ON I-275
Rescuers work as team on day of emergencies
Police use beanbag bullet to nab suspect
Butter sculptor ends 36-year run at Ohio fair
Handyman arrested in Butler Co. slayings
New device attacks tumors precisely
State full of Unions could lose 1 in Butler
Fernald cleanup contract up for bid
Girl finds python under truck
Ohio's farmers may get drought aid
Source of E. coli cases may be lost
69 indicted for non-support
Diocese aims to raise $10 million
Erlanger man dies in apartment fire
Jail deputy charged with selling drugs
Tall Stacks poster hot collectible
New technique speeds healing
Therapist calls 'Orgymania' educational
Camping fosters family bonding
Engineer finds fun in serious driving
GET TO IT
Seminar plots care, support for dying
Cordray gets ready to run
Early computer net to close
Ex-Marine teaches fitness the hard way
Fairfield firefighter runs for seat, may lose job
Industrialist's Victorian home is Indiana attraction
Kiddie porn case brings 12 charges
Longtime member to leave school board
Lucas foe $250,000 behind
Patton appoints chief justice's wife to judgeship
Rybolt Rd. projects in offing
Shooting suspect, 17, bound over as adult
Six candidates seeking 3 Oxford council seats
TRISTATE DIGEST
Upward Bound at Mt. St. Joe to aid high-schoolers
Woman indicted in aged father's death
