The Herald-News - News Story

Flames ripped through one of downtown Dayton's older homes early Monday evening. No one was injured in the blaze, though officials have figured it to be a total loss.

By the time Dayton firefighters were called onto the scene at 281 Fourth Avenue, smoke was billowing from the upstairs windows, creating a hazy blanket over much of the downtown area.

The fire was most likely ignited by a gas wall heater in the dining room downstairs, according to Dayton Fire Investigator Bo Kaylor, and had free reign in the old two-story house once it reached the inside of walls and ceilings.

The nearly 80-year-old house had wall studs that went from the ground all the way to the top of the second floor, common for homes built in the 1930s, said Dayton Fire Chief Chuck
Suttles. This construction created very little resistance as the flames traveled up the studs, easily spreading to the top floor, Suttles said.

"It was an old, old, old house," said Suttles. "There were no fire breaks or checkpoints in between."

The home's tin roof actually insulated the fire and made it hotter, he explained. Shingled roofs tend to burn through more quickly, giving firemen the chance to spray water directly on the open flames.

Renovations on the home also created difficulties for the firefighters. Lowered ceilings created space between the floors and gave flames room to spread, hidden from view and difficult to reach with water.

"You've got all the avenues for the fire to travel through, and you can't see it," said Suttles.
"Everything was just the worst set of circumstances you could imagine."

The homeowner, Rachel Rothwell, lived in the house with her four year-old son. No one was at home when the fire began. Firefighters alerted the Red Cross about the incident in case the family needed aid. The home was insured, and Rothwell and her son were said to be staying with relatives, according to Kaylor.

Though not officially ruled, Kaylor said the fire appears to be accidental. He is still working to determine exactly what caused the blaze.

"I'm concentrating my efforts around the wall heater in the dining room downstairs," said Kaylor on Tuesday morning.

Firefighters battled the flames, saturating the charred structure until 10 p.m. in temperatures as low as 20 degrees Farenheit. According to Suttles, three firemen suffered minor bruises from bad falls on the icy roads.

"I can tell you it was a cold fire," said Suttles, referring to the below-freezing weather.

Elisabeth Hollingsworth can be reached at elisabeth.hollingsworth@rheaheraldnews.com.