Nephew says hospital stay may have saved uncle from fire
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MONCLOVA TWP., Ohio -
Neighbors are recovering after a Thanksgiving Day fire at a Monclova Township condo complex.
The fire broke out just before 7:30 p.m. Thanksgiving evening in Monclova Township on Byrnwyck West, just off Salisbury Road. Flames lit up the sky, forcing families to flee their homes and leave all their possessions behind. Fire crews spent hours working to gain control of the massive fire.
Jeff Biggs viewed charred ruins of his uncle's home on Saturday morning.
"My uncle has lived here for 28 years, he's actually in charge of maintenance at the facility."
Biggs says it's mostly older people who live there because there's an elevator and underground parking. His uncle wasn't there when the flames broke out. He was in the hospital.
"He had a stroke this past weekend. And it's probably fortunate that he's in the hospital because he probably wouldn't have made it out of there because he's pretty much immobile. So it's a blessing for us."
People living nearby say the flames could be seen from far away.
Neighbor Karen Kontak said, "It smelled like burning plastic and rubber. It's very unfortunate to happen around the holidays."
Firefighters returned to the complex Friday night when part of the roof reignited. Investigators say wind caused loose embers inside the building to rekindle.
Firefighters from Monclova and Springfield Townships went through the building checking for hot spots.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 1:56 PM EDT2013-05-21 17:56:34 GMT
A twister ripped through the Lake Township area almost three years ago. The community is pretty much back to normal, but residents still remember the horror that hit their neighborhood in 2010.
Lake Township residents are remembering the twister that ripped through their area almost three years ago. The Oklahoma tornado victims are on the minds of those in Lake Township who suffered deaths and damage in 2010.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 1:54 PM EDT2013-05-21 17:54:25 GMT
Portions of Moore, Oklahoma were ravaged by a mile-wide tornado this Monday afternoon. This follows a near-record quiet start to tornado season. Strong storms may reach northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan by Tuesday.
Recovery efforts continue in Moore, Oklahoma after a catastrophic tornado on Monday. The tornado season that began quietly in 2013 has roared to life this week. Severe weather is possible in Northwest Ohio on Tuesday and Wednesday. 13abc and 13abc.com will update throughout the day.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 1:48 PM EDT2013-05-21 17:48:46 GMT
Lakota Local Schools will be dismissing early on Tuesday. Because of low water pressure, school administrators tell 13abc that all grades will be dismissed at 11:45am.
Lakota Local Schools were dismissing early on Tuesday. Because of low water pressure, school administrators tell 13abc that all grades were dismissed at 11:45am. There was also no afternoon preschool.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 1:13 PM EDT2013-05-21 17:13:01 GMT
Severe weather is sweeping areas of the plains states. At least one person is dead and more storms are on the way today. ISOH/IMPACT is preparing to help those affected by the spring storms in Texas
Local charities are organizing to help victims of the Oklahoma tornado. The Red Cross is accepting donations at redcross.org. For more information, go to 13abc.com.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 1:11 PM EDT2013-05-21 17:11:35 GMT
For some people in Northwest Ohio, the image of a massive tornado is something they only see on TV. But Allan Detrich puts himself directly in their path."Seeing the storms out in the plains, they're
A local man remembers being in Oklahoma City in 1999, when a massive tornado ravaged the city. Allan Detrich of Fremont says the area was devastated and Monday's tornado reminds him of what happened 14 years ago.
Rescue crews are working through the night after a monstrous tornado barreled through the Oklahoma City suburbs, demolishing an elementary school and reducing homes to piles of splintered wood.
Emergency crews searched the broken remnants of an Oklahoma City suburb Tuesday for survivors of a massive tornado that flattened homes and demolished an elementary school. At least 24 people were killed, including at least...
Tuesday, May 21 2013 2:03 PM EDT2013-05-21 18:03:08 GMT
Heartbreaking photos are coming out of Moore, Oklahoma after a tornado flattened much of the town Monday, killing dozens.
The Governor of Oklahoma says an untold number of people are still missing following the Moore tornado. Emergency crews continue the search for survivors. At least 24 were killed including nine children.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 1:54 PM EDT2013-05-21 17:54:25 GMT
Portions of Moore, Oklahoma were ravaged by a mile-wide tornado this Monday afternoon. This follows a near-record quiet start to tornado season. Strong storms may reach northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan by Tuesday.
Recovery efforts continue in Moore, Oklahoma after a catastrophic tornado on Monday. The tornado season that began quietly in 2013 has roared to life this week. Severe weather is possible in Northwest Ohio on Tuesday and Wednesday. 13abc and 13abc.com will update throughout the day.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 1:48 PM EDT2013-05-21 17:48:46 GMT
Lakota Local Schools will be dismissing early on Tuesday. Because of low water pressure, school administrators tell 13abc that all grades will be dismissed at 11:45am.
Lakota Local Schools were dismissing early on Tuesday. Because of low water pressure, school administrators tell 13abc that all grades were dismissed at 11:45am. There was also no afternoon preschool.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 1:11 PM EDT2013-05-21 17:11:35 GMT
For some people in Northwest Ohio, the image of a massive tornado is something they only see on TV. But Allan Detrich puts himself directly in their path."Seeing the storms out in the plains, they're
A local man remembers being in Oklahoma City in 1999, when a massive tornado ravaged the city. Allan Detrich of Fremont says the area was devastated and Monday's tornado reminds him of what happened 14 years ago.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 12:53 PM EDT2013-05-21 16:53:28 GMT
Toledo firefighters are on the scene of a house fire on the city's East side. Firefighters were called to a home on Thurston Street between Woodville Road and Starr Avenue just after four this morning. There
Toledo firefighters battled two house fires on the east side of Toledo Tuesday. A home in the 400 block of Thurston Avenue was firebombed. Three adults and two children made it out safely. Firefighters also put out a house fire in the 700 block of Euclid Avenue near Starr Avenue.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:30 AM EDT2013-05-21 10:30:27 GMT
Coast guard crews are searching for a missing boater in Lake Erie. Authorities aren't releasing a name, but they say this person left Meinke Marina in Curtice, Ohio Monday afternoon. The person was due
Coast guard crews found a boater reported to be missing on Lake Erie Tuesday morning.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:15 AM EDT2013-05-21 10:15:41 GMT
Investigators with the arson unit have a person of interest custody possibly linked to a fire at 727 Euclid.The fire started before 4:30 this morning on Euclid near Starr.Investigators say it was a vacant
Investigators with the arson unit have a person of interest custody possibly linked to a fire at 727 Euclid.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 1:13 PM EDT2013-05-21 17:13:01 GMT
Severe weather is sweeping areas of the plains states. At least one person is dead and more storms are on the way today. ISOH/IMPACT is preparing to help those affected by the spring storms in Texas
Local charities are organizing to help victims of the Oklahoma tornado. The Red Cross is accepting donations at redcross.org. For more information, go to 13abc.com.