Nephew says hospital stay may have saved uncle from fire - 13abc.com Toledo (OH) News, Weather and Sports

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.

 

 

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