By Sharon Turco
The Cincinnati Enquirer

A Walnut Hills house fire spread to the home next door early Tuesday, creating a blaze so large it took 68 firefighters six hours to put it out.

One man, who was not identified in reports, escaped the fire at 2851 Melrose Ave., said Cincinnati Fire District 1 Chief Steve Kluesener. A firefighter suffered minor injuries.

The cause of the five-alarm fire that ravaged the two homes - the man's home and the neighboring house, which was vacant but being renovated - remains under investigation.

"Both buildings were totally destroyed," said Chief Kluesener, who described the blaze as one of the worst that firefighters have encountered had this year.

Damage was estimated arout $150,000. County property records show the home at 2851 Melrose belongs to Allen L. James, who could not be located for comment. The address of the second home, which was just an arm's length away from the first home, could not be confirmed.

The blaze broke out at 2 a.m., startling Louella Arrington, 78, who lives in an apartment adjacent to the back yard of the homes.

"I looked out a back window, and the top was just flaming - big flames everywhere," she said. "It was frightening."

She and others in her building ran outside, fearing the blaze could spread through backyard trees. But they returned inside after about an hour.

Dozens of firefighters from 12 engine companies, three ladder companies and a heavy rescue unit responded to the fire.

"There was so much water, the street looked like a river," Mrs. Arrington said.

The fire was still burning when Dante Ware, 32, came to work at the Melrose Group Home for teen-age boys, on the other side of the burning buildings.

"I hated to see that, especially at Christmas," Mr. Ware said.

Engine 19 firefighter Greg Potter fell while fighting the fire and suffered a gash to his chin that required nine stitches, Chief Kluesener said.

E-mail sturco@enquirer.com