Ashtabula building destroyed by fire
Nov. 8—ASHTABULA — A major fire kept firefighters busy for hours Wednesday night on West 32nd Street, said Ashtabula Fire Department Capt. Dennis Page.
Page said the fire department received a call of smoke coming out of a building near the site of the new Ashtabula Area City Schools bus garage around 4:50 p.m. On the way to the fire another call came in regarding the fire.
"We came in 32nd Street and we had moderate smoke," Page said.
He said he was able to locate a man and his dog who lived in the basement of the building. Page said they were not injured.
Page said three firefighters were sent inside the basement where the fire started and battled the blaze. Page said he came out of the basement and realized the fire had already spread to the second and third floors of the structure at 514 West 32nd St.
"Our focus shifted from offensive to defensive," Page said.
Firefighters were ordered out of the building since everyone was safe at that time.
Page said the Ashtabula ladder truck is being repaired so ladder trucks from Geneva and Ashtabula Township were called to the scene Saybrook firefighters also responded to the fire.
Page said the Geneva and Ashtabula Township trucks got water from two different fire hydrants and spraying thousands of gallons on the fire.
He said all the city firefighters were recalled to assist in fighting the fire or manning the station.
Firefighters were still battling the blaze late into the evening. Page said the cause of the fire was still being investigated.
