Monday, June 12, 2000
Careless smoking blamed in fatal fire
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FAIRFIELD — A firefighter was hit in the head when a section of roof collapsed and a second firefighter suffered heat exhaustion Sunday fighting a six-unit townhouse complex fire in Fairfield.
In two other fires over the weekend, careless smoking was blamed in the death of a Colerain Township woman Sunday morning and a candle ignited kerosene being poured into a lantern.
Marie Watson, 74, of the 3400 block of Lapland Drive died at University Hospital on Sunday. Firefighters responded at 10:35 p.m. Saturday to her third-floor apartment. Her smoke detector did not have a battery in it, Colerain Township firefighter and paramedic Dave Jennings said Sunday. The fire started in the living room and Ms. Watson was found in a hallway.
Damage to the 12-unit apartment building was estimated at $25,000. No one else was injured. Residents on Sunday returned to their units, some of which sustained minor smoke damage, Mr. Jennings said.
Few details were available Sunday night on the fire at Governor's Manor apartments on Governor's Drive. Fairfield Fire Chief Don Bennett estimated 21 people were displaced by the fire, which may have been caused by a toddler playing with a lighter.
The building is a total loss, Chief Bennett said.
The blaze started about 4:50 p.m. One resident of the complex told firefighters that he left the toddler to get blankets and a pillow so the child could take a nap, Chief Bennett said. When the man returned, a sofa was on fire.
As the man left the building, he sprained an ankle, Chief Bennett said. The two firefighters who were injured were taken to Mercy Hospital Fairfield.
Chief Bennett said he would talk with the building's owner before releasing any damage estimates.
Firefighters from Springdale and Forest Park helped extinguish the blaze.
The Saturday night fire was the second in as many days in Colerain Township.
At 8:25 p.m. Friday, a man suffered burns on both arms when he was pouring liquid fuel into a kerosene lantern. Vapors were ignited by a nearby burning candle, fire officials said.
Jamie Lemon, in his late 20s or early 30s, was treated at University Hospital and released. The fire started in Mr. Lemon's apartment on the ground floor of a 12-unit building in the 3200 block of Sovereign Drive.
Three residents were rescued by firefighters from balconies.
Damage was estimated at $70,000. No one else was injured.
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