Two families were displaced from their homes Tuesday after a fire ignited in an upstairs apartment.
West Liberty Fire Department with mutual aid from the Bellefontaine Fire Department responded to 170 McKeestown Road around 2:10 p.m. and found heavy smoke coming from the structure.
Misty Leopold and her two children lived in the Apartment B and she had just left, according to the residents of Apartment A below, West Liberty Fire Chief Conrad Hostetler reports.
Caleb Cerwinsky, who resides downstairs with a woman and two children, called 911 after he noticed smoke and flames coming from his neighbor’s apartment.
Everyone got out of the apartments unharmed and the fire damage was contained to a back bedroom.
Chief Hostetler said the cause of the fire does not appear suspicious, but remains under investigation by the insurance company. It appears the origin could be an electrical issue.
There is heavy water damage to the Cerwinsky apartment, while the rest of the Leopold residence sustained smoke damage throughout.
Windy conditions made it difficult to battle the fire, Chief Hostetler said, and it took a concentrated effort to reach the bedroom.
Both families were assisted by the Logan County Chapter of the American Red Cross.
Damage is estimated at $100,000 to the duplex owned by Douglas Elleman.