Fire damages unlicensed house

Fire ravaged an unlicensed Oberlin rooming house on March 14.

Although the residents of 65 Groveland escaped without injury, the early morning fire claimed most of the second floor. The back bedroom crashed into the garage below, crushing two cars.

The damage was estimated at $60,000 at the time of the fire. According to City Fire Chief Dennis Kirin, the owner of the home decided to cut his losses and level the remains of the home.

Brian Taylor lived in the back bedroom where the fire started.

"My bed being on fire woke me up," Taylor said. According to residents, the smoke detectors did not sound.

Taylor attempted to fight the fire, but his efforts only aggravated the flames. Taylor alerted his five housemates and three guests. They escaped in time to watch much of their home go up in smoke.

"It was a pretty good sized fire," Kirin said. "We do suspect the possibility of an electrical cause."

Fire fighters were able to subdue the flames in 45 minutes. Neighbors brought blankets to the displaced residents watching from the sidewalk.

The fire was the third serious fire in Oberlin since the beginning of the year. Kirin said, "Do we have fires in rooming houses? Yes we do."