MOUNT VERNON — Seven children and a handicapped person escaped, apparently without injury, from a burning house Monday afternoon. The alarm came in at 2:55 p.m. for the house at 118 Cassil St., just east of North Sandusky Street in northwest Mount Vernon.
Mount Vernon Fire Department Capt. Dave Mills said the fire apparently started in a downstairs bedroom. Originally a one-story house, a second-story room had been built above the downstairs bedroom. The fire burned into the roof above the original room, making the fire difficult to access. Contents of the porch then caught fire, and, burning fiercely, were blown into and set fire to a large garage behind the house.
Mills said the fire got into the full-size garage, damaging a vehicle, motorcycle and tools. He added that the fire was confined to the downstairs bedroom and porch area, but the rest of the five- or six-room house had extensive smoke and water damage. Firefighters fought the blaze in 24-degree temperatures and bright sunshine. A slight wind carried the smoke northeast, and smoke was visible for several miles in all directions.
Six of the eight Mount Vernon firefighter/paramedics on duty were on squad runs when the alarm came in. The two firefighters at the Elmwood Station were moving over to the main station when the alarm came in; they responded directly to the scene on Cassil Street. Mills was alone at the department, and took the station pickup and his turnout gear and also responded to the fire.
Five off-duty firefighters were called in and brought additional equipment to the scene. The Fredericktown Community Fire Department responded with mutual aid with an engine, a squad and 10 firefighters.
Firefighters had the fire put out in an hour and 45 minutes. MVFD investigators Jason Whaley and Terry Davis were at the scene Monday evening to begin to determine the cause of the fire.
Mills said the Knox County Auditor’s Web site listed the owner as Helen Priest. According to the Red Cross, Gary and Amanda Priest were living in the home.
