Wednesday, April 12, 2000

Fire causes $400,000 damage

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BY Allen Howard
The Cincinnati Enquirer

        COLUMBIA TWP. — A fire started from overheated food in a microwave caused $400,000 damage Tuesday to a building in the Hilltop Apartments complex.

Smoke rises from a building at Hilltop Apartments. (Glenn Hartong photo) | ZOOM |

        It took 60 firefighters from eight departments 1¹/₂ hours to bring the blaze under control at 5630 View Pointe in the 24-unit building.

        No one was seriously injured.

        Golf Manor Fire Capt. Jim Puthoff said the blaze was accidentally caused by a 9-year-old boy warming up food in the microwave.

        “When he discovered it had overheated, he tried to throw it outside the apartment, but it didn't get outside,” Capt. Puthoff said.

        A neighbor said the boy, on spring break and home alone, ran outside and screamed that the apartment was on fire. Capt. Puthoff said the call came in about 11:30 a.m.

        “When we arrived there shortly after the call came in, the fire was already coming out the roof of the building,” he said.

        Three children in two other apartments suffered smoke inhalation.They were treated and released at Children's Hospital.

        Neighbor Robert Dennis, 27, was treated and released at University of Cincinnati Medical Center. An unidentified woman in another apartment was also treated and released at UC.

        The fire caused extensive damage to three apartments. Nine others had moderate smoke and water damage and were rendered unlivable.

        The American Red Cross assisted firefighters and victims.

        Capt. Puthoff said it was the second fire in the complex within the last 1¹/₂ years.

        Along with Golf Manor, fire units responded from Sycamore Township, Madison Place, Reading, Fairfax, Silverton-Deer Park Joint Fire District, Mariemont, and Amberley Village.

       

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