By David Eck
Enquirer Contributor

Firefighters from Whitewater and Miami townships look for the cause of a two-alarm fire that heavily damaged a Miami Township home Tuesday morning. (Glenn Hartong photo)

MIAMI TOWNSHIP - Firefighters are crediting neighbors and passers-by with helping a disabled woman escape her family's burning home Tuesday morning.

The woman, identified as Debbie Handy, 31, was safe when firefighters arrived at the home at 4807 E. Miami River Road, said Miami Township Assistant Fire Chief Steve Ober.

"From what I understand, several neighbors assisted the wheelchair-bound resident in getting out the door," Ober said. "Upon our arrival, they already had her at one of the neighbor's houses."

Handy, who was born with spina bifida and is paralyzed from the waist down, lives with her parents, Patricia and Jim Handy. They were not home at the time of the fire.

Tony Gamm, Handy's brother-in-law, said he was getting ready for work Tuesday morning when he saw a news broadcast about the fire and noticed it was his in-laws' home.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and a damage estimate has not been determined, Ober said. The single-family home suffered heavy damage.

Firefighters from Colerain, Crosby, Whitewater, Green and Delhi townships assisted Miami Township crews. A fund has been set up for the family. Donations can be made to the Patricia Handy Fund at any PNC Bank location.

E-mail daveck@fuse.net